The fourth diagram is a dividing magic square. The constant 6 is here
obtained by dividing the second number in a line by the first (in either
direction) and the third number by the quotient. But, again, the process
is simplified by dividing the product of the two extreme numbers by the
middle number. This square is also "associated" by multiplication. It is
derived from the multiplying square by merely reversing the diagonals,
and the constant of the multiplying square is the cube of that of the
dividing square derived from it.
The next set of diagrams shows the solutions for the fifth order of
square. They are all "associated" in the same way as before. The
subtracting square is derived from the adding square by reversing the
diagonals and exchanging opposite numbers in the centres of the borders,
and the constant of one is again n times that of the other. The
dividing square is derived from the multiplying square in the same way,
and the constant of the latter is the 5th power (that is the nth) of
that of the former.
[Illustration]
These squares are thus quite easy for odd orders. But the reader will
probably find some difficulty over the even orders, concerning which I
will leave him to make his own researches, merely propounding two little
problems.
407.--TWO NEW MAGIC SQUARES.
Construct a subtracting magic square with the first sixteen whole
numbers that shall be "associated" by _subtraction_. The constant is, of
course, obtained by subtracting the first number from the second in
line, the result from the third, and the result again from the fourth.
Also construct a dividing magic square of the same order that shall be
"associated" by _division_. The constant is obtained by dividing the
second number in a line by the first, the third by the quotient, and the
fourth by the next quotient.
408.--MAGIC SQUARES OF TWO DEGREES.
While reading a French mathematical work I happened to come across, the
following statement: "A very remarkable magic square of 8, in two
degrees, has been constructed by M. Pfeffermann. In other words, he has
managed to dispose the sixty-four first numbers on the squares of a
chessboard in such a way that the sum of the numbers in every line,
every column, and in each of the two diagonals, shall be the same; and
more, that if one substitutes for all the numbers their squares, the
square still remains magic." I at once set to work to solve this
problem, and, although it proved a very hard nut, one was rewarded by
the discovery of some curious and beautiful laws that govern it. The
reader may like to try his hand at the puzzle.
MAGIC SQUARES OF PRIMES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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