Magic Squares

Introduction – Properties of a Magic Square

Magic squares are made in 3 x 3 squares, 4 x 4 squares, 5 x 5 squares, etc, filled with numbers. After filling all the numbers, all the VERTICAL, HORIZONTAL AND BOTH THE DIAGONALS’ TOTALS ARE EQUAL. And this total will be {(1+n2)/2}*n. (Where n = number of rows or number of columns)

In simple format, the total will be the lowest number added togetheer withthe highest number, then divided by two, and them multiplied by the number of rows. This is the minimum condition for any magic square.

Generally  a 3 x 3 Magic square  is filled with numbers 1 to 9 ( 9 = 3 x 3), a    4 x 4 magic square with 1 to 16 ( 16 = 4 x 4 ) and a 5 x 5 magic square with 1 to 25 etc. In general a ‘n’ x ‘n’ magic square is filled with 1 to n2 numbers.

It will have ‘n’ rows and ‘n’ columns and totally there are n2 small squares.

Generally 1 to n2 numbers are used to form the magic squares. In special cases we can use fractions, zero, negative numbers and squares, cubes also

We can make 3 x 3, 4 x 4, 5 x 5 etc. magic squares for a particular given number like your birth year and for a given  numbers also.

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How to make a 3 X 3 Magic Square ?

1. Draw an empty 3 x 3 square. It is the boundary for 3 x 3 magic square

2. We are going fill all numbers from 1 to 9, in the nine squares.

Always write number ‘1’ in the upper middle square

3.Always write the next number one square right and one square above, AND WHEN IT GOES

A)   Beyond boundary in the upper side, write it vertically downmost square
B)    beyond the boundary in the right side, write it in the horizontally leftmost square
C)     When the square is already filled with a number , just step down one square vertically and write the number

4.   and after the top row rightmost square always write the next number one square vertically below

5. With these simple techniques you can make any ODD NUMBER MAGIC SQUARE like 5 x 5, 7 x 7, 9 x 9 etc.  etc.. upto any highest odd number in the world.

3 x 3 Magic square: Total 15

816
357
492

3 x 3 Magic square Total 2019

676669674
671673675
672677670

5 x 5 Magic square Total = 65

( 1+25 = 26/2 = 13 x 5 = 65 )

17241815
23571416
46132022
101219213
11182529

5 x 5 Magic square with magic sum 2020

408415392399406
414396398405407
395397404411413
401403410412394
402409416393400

5 x 5 Magic square inside a Magic Square

5 x 5 Magic Square Inside a Magic Square

How to make a 4 X 4 Magic Square ?

1. Draw a 4 x 4 empty square.

2. Draw the two diagonals.

3. Count all squares from the top left towards the right. (Total 16)

4. Now start writing numbers 1 to 16 from the top left square . Count all squares , and write numbers only in the blank squares. Do not write numbers in the squares with diagonal lines. (2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15 are to be filled, as shown in the image below).

4 x 4 Magic square - pass 1

5. Now start writing the numbers from the bottom most right square towards left, count all squares BUT WRITE NUMBERS ONLY IN THE SQUARES HAVING DIAGONAL LINES ONLY. (1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16 are to be written (as shown in the image below).

4 x 4 Magic square - pass 2

6. Magic square 4 x 4 ready . All vertical, Horizontal and both diagonals are equal to 34.

7. This method will be applicable for 4 x 4 only.

By suitably changing the starting number (which was 1 in this example), we can make Magic squares of any total. For example, if we start with 498, we can get a 4 x 4 magic square with Total 2022 as follows:

4 x 4 Magic square - total 2020

Any Order – Odd

This procedure is same as that of making a 3 X 3 magic square, except that we start with a n X n square initially and start filling numbers following the same rules that we followed for making a 3 X 3 Magic Square.

7 x 7 Magic square inside a Magic Square

7 x 7 Magic Square

7 x 7 Magic Square

Any Order – Even

As such there is no known, GENERAL methodology to obtain an even order magic square upto any order.

Word Magic Square

As such there is no known, GENERAL methodology to obtain an even order magic square upto any order. Anyhow you can make these magic squares with trial and error methods.

An example is given to you to get an idea.

Total 45

25
218
81522
12285

In the above 3 x 3 magic square, all totals are 45. Take the upper middle square, 2 (TWO) written in alphabhats will have three letters and in the corresponding square shown down you have to write the number three. Likewise all numbers are to be written and according to the alphabhats available. AMAZINGLY THIS WILL ALSO BE A MAGIC SQUARE of total 21.

Total 21

10
38
579
6114

OTHER SUCH INTERESTING– Special  Magic Squares

As such there is no known, GENERAL methodology to obtain any other Magic Sqaure

1. Diamond magic square,
2. Swastika magic square,
3. Spell magic square,
4. Date of birth magic square,
5. Biography magic square,
6. Reverse magic square,
7. Upside down magic square,
8. Mirror magic square,
9. 1800 turned Magic square,
10. Palindrome Magic square (see example here),
11. Magic squares inside a magic square
12. Upside down and Mirror Magic square
13. Diabolic magic square (4×4 diabolic magic square)
14. multiplication Magic Squares
15. Spell magic squares
16. Magic squares for a given year
17. Completing a magic square when only any two numbers are given in any 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 or any other order
18. 2 x 2 continuous magic squares
19. 64 moves of a king in a chess board and the final path is a 8 x 8 magic square
20. 64 moves of a knight in a chess board and the final path is a 8 x 8 magic square
21. 64 moves of a rook in a chess board and the final paths is a 8 x 8 magic square