Questions tagged [magic-square]

A puzzle related to magic squares: grids of integers where all rows, columns, and diagonals have the same sum.

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3 answers
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Unsolved Mysteries: Magic Square of Squares

This is the first in what will hopefully be a series of Unsolved Mysteries posts. Note that this puzzle has no known solution, nor any proof that a solution is impossible. We will see how ...
GentlePurpleRain's user avatar
22 votes
6 answers
8k views

3x3 "Magic Square" of Prime Numbers

During the thinking and analysis of some mathematical problems, I came up with this puzzle: Just like any magic square, one has to fill in $9$ different numbers $P_1, P_2, \dots P_9$ to a $3 \times 3$...
LaBird's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
1k views

The 5040 Square

Fill a $4\times4$ grid with positive integers so that: Every cell has a different integer The product of the numbers in each row is $5040$, and similarly for the columns Source: This was an NPR ...
Mike Earnest's user avatar
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19 votes
5 answers
801 views

A riddle that has been killing me the whole day

So I'm walking around in London and found the following number riddle. The rules say, that what ever pattern you find, must be true for the rows as well as the columns. The answer in level 1 is for ...
Viktor Jeppesen's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
2k views

Magic square with the position of 8 fixed

A magic square (of order 3) is a 3x3 matrix consisting of distinct numbers from 1 to 9, where the numbers in each row, column and diagonal add up to 15. For example, the following would be a magic ...
John Bupit's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
514 views

It cannot be done. I think

I have spent too much time on this question. I am convinced this cannot be done. Please prove me right (or wrong) and explain why. Below is a 5x5 grid. Digits 1 through 9 go in the 9 yellow boxes. ...
DrD's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
4k views

Elegant solution to the Magic Hexagon problem

The Magic Hexagon Problem A magic hexagon of order $n$ is an arrangement of close-packed hexagons containing the numbers $1, 2, ..., H_{n-1}$, where $H_n$ is the $n^{th}$ hex number such that the ...
durron597's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
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What is the fewest number of filled-in squares required to uniquely define a magic square?

The magic square is a well-known grid of the numbers from 1 to 9 in which every row, column, and diagonal adds up to 15: 4 9 2 3 5 7 8 1 6 But it is also ...
user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
19k views

Magic Squares in Sudoku Grids

A 3x3 magic square is a 3x3 grid containing the numbers 1-9 once each, and in which every row, column, and diagonal sums to 15: 294 753 618 And I presume we all ...
Kevin's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
13k views

Magic square using numbers 0,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10

I have to make a 3x3 magic square using the numbers 0-10 without 1 and 9. I have tried various things but am not good at this. The sums of each row, column, and diagonal have to be equal; I added all ...
tyler's user avatar
  • 129
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

Does a magic rectangle exist?

My definition of a magic rectangle: Any $m \times n$ rectangle where $m \ne n$ and all the numbers $1, 2, 3,\dots, mn$ fit into the rectangle. All horizontal lines, vertical lines, and diagonal ...
warspyking's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
733 views

Put numbers to a star-shaped puzzle

For users who can not see picture, see description below ...
Jamal Senjaya's user avatar
11 votes
6 answers
4k views

The Quite Unusual Square

Imagine an $n \times n$ grid filled with the numbers 1, ..., $n$ where $n$ > 3 each number appearing n times, where each row, column, and diagonal all equal the same number. Can you fill grid like ...
warspyking's user avatar
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10 votes
5 answers
612k views

Puzzle of putting numbers 1-9 in 3x3 Grid to add up to 15

In a 3x3 grid, I'd have to put numbers from 1 to 9 in a manner so that respective row, column and diagonal add up to 15. I have only been able to come up with one solution: 6 1 8 7 5 3 2 9 4 ...
Freya's user avatar
  • 119
10 votes
4 answers
471 views

Not-Quite-Sufficiently-Advanced-Technology Square

This was given as an assignment to a group of sixth graders, who were told they could use calculators. Beyond that, no real assistance was provided. They were not working on it as a group, so ...
Rubio's user avatar
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9 votes
5 answers
8k views

Complete the magic square!

So, my math teacher gave us a magic math square with the 9 in the bottom right corner, the 7 in the left column middle row, and the 1 in the middle column top row. She said she would give whoever ...
Kay-D Castaneda's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
296 views

How big can a witchcraft square be?

A witchcraft square is defined to be an $n\times n$ square of distinct natural numbers such that the row sums and column sums form a set of $2n$ consecutive natural numbers. For example, 5 11 14 ...
Rand al'Thor's user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
2k views

Modify a magic square

This is a 3x3 magic square of summation, in which sums of each row, column, and diagonal are equal. $$\begin{array}{c|c|c} 4&9&2\\\hline 3&5&7\\\hline 8&1&6 \end{array}$$ Now ...
Jamal Senjaya's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
5k views

Can you fill a 3x3 grid with these numbers so the products of the rows and columns are the same?

Is it possible to form a $3\mbox{x}3$ grid containing the set of numbers: $${1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256}$$ in such a way that the product of the numbers in every row, column and diagonal are the same? ...
warspyking's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
3k views

9-by-9 filled, magic square

Construct a 9-by-9 filled, magic square using the integers from 0 to 80. The magic square should additionally have the property that when it is divided into ninths according to the picture below, each ...
Daniella's user avatar
  • 127
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

The magic of the primes

A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer found themselves caught in an ancient anecdote. Lacking a chemist to brew them an anecdote antidote, they fell to arguing over which of them was to be the ...
Rand al'Thor's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

The magic square with a hole

Alice loves magic squares. She has a 4x4 square, where she can put a number in each cell. But alas! Some evil person has poked a hole in her square. Alice is really really sad because she can't make a ...
Rohcana's user avatar
  • 4,010
8 votes
3 answers
777 views

Perfect magic 4x4 square

Can you fill a 4x4 grid with every number from 1 to 16, such that every row, every column and every 2x2 sub-grid of numbers sum to the same value?
Dmitry Kamenetsky's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
510 views

A 4 x 4 Magic Square with Pairwise Relatively Prime Entries

Find a 4 x 4 magic square of positive integers such that any two of its entries are pairwise different and relatively prime, i.e., have no common divisor greater than 1. What is the least that the ...
Bernardo Recamán Santos's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

3x3 “Magic Square” of Prime Numbers -- Part II

Glad to know the previous puzzle, which was the first puzzle I posted in Puzzling, was warmly welcomed (Thank you!), and an optimal solution was found. Inspired by the comments there, here is the ...
LaBird's user avatar
  • 670
8 votes
1 answer
669 views

Can you reactivate a 4x4 Magic Square?

We've already removed the magic from a 3x3 magic square. Recently, one of our 4x4 magic squares was scrambled in an earthquake and I need your help to reactivate it's magic: Objective Your objective ...
Hazel へいぜる's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Magic-preserving Permutations on a 4x4 Magic Square

Messing around with some magic-square puzzles, I faced the problem of deciding whether some two magical squares are, in fact, the one and same square wearing a different hat. It seemed to me, that for ...
Bass's user avatar
  • 75.7k
7 votes
2 answers
814 views

Magic Square Mixups [Challenge]

This kind of puzzle is different than your normal magic square puzzles. Here are 3, in increasing difficulty. Some numbers have been switched, and you have to find them and swap them around to make ...
Vincent Tang's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
1k views

No ordinary magic square

Instead of placing every number from 1-9 in the square below such that each column, row and long diagonal has the same sum, do the opposite! Place 1-9 in the squares below in a manner such that none ...
Greg Hastings's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
692 views

Arrange the numbers in a 4x4 table

Put these numbers: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 45, 50, 75 in a 4x4 square table so the products of all numbers in any given row, column and diagonal are equal. Note : There are ...
Jamal Senjaya's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Create a magic square of 4-digit numbers

Example: 4567 4567 4567 4567 4567 4567 4567 4567 4567 what is magic square? if you add up each diagonal, row and column of above matrix it will sum upto 13701. Above is a 3*3 ...
Sayed Mohd Ali's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
641 views

Can you fill in the missing numbers in this unfriendly magic square?

An unfriendly magic square is a magic square whereby the difference between neighbouring numbers always is subject to a minimum, i.e. Each number in the matrix is unique. Each row, column and the two ...
Paul Richards's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

Find the missing numbers in the magic square

The following is a magic square: each row, column and diagonal add to 34, all of the numbers 1 to 16 appear exactly once. Find the missing numbers.
user2882061's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
531 views

I'm trying to create a magic square

I'm having trouble trying to make a $3\times3$ magic square with magic number $12$ and I can't figure it out. Can you please help me?
Lucy's user avatar
  • 79
6 votes
4 answers
29k views

How do I solve these 3x3 magic squares? [duplicate]

I'm doing 3x3 magic squares. Here are the squares I'm working on: | | 5 | | | | | | | 8 | | | The values must be between 3 and 12, and each line ...
user12319's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
985 views

No ordinary magic square part 2. How many solutions are there?

Same rules as last time except this time count or calculate the number of possible solutions! No ordinary magic square Place 1-9 in the squares below in a manner such that none of the columns, rows or ...
Greg Hastings's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
984 views

An Antimagic Square

You are to place the numbers $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$ and five zeros in a $3 \times 3$ grid. Do this in such a way so that the column, row, and two diagonal sums form the sequence $0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7$...
Tyler Seacrest's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
532 views

Magic back yards

My back yard forms a rectangular grid of squares except some of the squares are missing as they are covered by pipes or a small tree. The layout is as follows. A 'x' indicates a square that is free ...
Simd's user avatar
  • 6,681
6 votes
1 answer
695 views

Are there any sets of 9 numbers that can form two essentially distinct magic squares?

It's known that the numbers 1 to 9 can only form eight different magic squares, which are all rotations and reflections of each other. Is there any set of 9 distinct numbers that can form two ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
209 views

How to fill $4320$ multiplicative semi-magic square?

How can we fill $4*4$ Matrix with distinct positive integers such that product of the entries in each row & column is equal to $4320$ ? My Strategy: $$4320=2^5 \times 3^3 \times 5$$ First I ...
Suresh's user avatar
  • 430
6 votes
1 answer
117 views

4x4 magic square consisting of consecutive composite numbers

Is it possible to create a fourth-order magic square consisting of consecutive composite numbers that don't form an arithmetic sequence? If possible, give an example . If not, provide a proof. ...
Pedja's user avatar
  • 163
5 votes
2 answers
6k views

How to Determine a Magic Constant in a Magic Square?

A magic square consists of the numbers $1,2,\ldots,m^2$ placed into $m\times m$ square grid, so that every row, column, and both diagonals have the same sum. The magic constant of the square is this ...
warspyking's user avatar
  • 14.4k
5 votes
4 answers
3k views

Magic square 4x4 that sum to 38 [closed]

I'm stuck with this math puzzle, tried many strategies but can't solve it. I have to fill a 4x4 magic square that sums up to 38 (row, column, and both diagonals) with these given numbers: 4, 6, 7, 7, ...
Albert_ITA's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
286 views

Four 3x3 semimagic squares in a 5x5 grid

Can you place every number from 1 to 25 in a 5x5 grid such that it contains four 3x3 semimagic squares? A semimagic square is a square whose rows and columns all sum to the same number. This is ...
Dmitry Kamenetsky's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
328 views

Magic Square with more Magic Squares inside it?

Is it possible to have an $n \times n$ magic square with a another magic square of $\frac n 4 \times \frac n 4$ magic square inside it? If so provide an example, if not prove if impossible. Rules: $...
warspyking's user avatar
  • 14.4k
5 votes
1 answer
512 views

Near Magic Squares with the First 25 Primes

There are 25 primes smaller than 100. What is the closest to a 5 x 5 magic square I can construct with them? By "closest" I mean the one with the most columns, rows, and diagonals (12 in all)...
Bernardo Recamán Santos's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
605 views

Fill in a 4x4 multiplicative magic square

Suppose we have 4 by 4 grid with numbers 1, 2, .., 16. Can we fill the grid so that the product of the first row is equal to the product of the first column, the product of the second row is equal to ...
user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
496 views

Magic cutting squares with given sum

You meet a guy on the road. The following conversation follows: He: Let's play a game. Give me any natural number from $3$ to $10$. I'll call this number the grid size You: Okay, $4$. (...
ghosts_in_the_code's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
487 views

Interesting 3x3 table, with some unique prime numbers

...
Jamal Senjaya's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
2k views

Place the numbers 1-7 in the squares so that each row and columns adds up to the same total

A F B D E C G A+B+C = B+D+E = F+E+G Numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
user67518's user avatar