1. Magic Squares Debunking the Magic Radu Sorici
The University of Texas at Dallas

2. Random Magic Square

3. No practical use yet great influence upon people

4. No practical use yet great influence upon people
In Mathematics we study the nature of numbers and magic squares are a perfect example to show their natural symmetry

5. History is Very Important
There is evidence to date magic squares as early as the 6th century due to Chinese mathematicians

6. History is Very Important
There is evidence to date magic squares as early as the 6th century due to Chinese mathematicians
It was later discovered by the Arabs in the 7th century

7. History is Very Important
There is evidence to date magic squares as early as the 6th century due to Chinese mathematicians
It was later discovered by the Arabs in the 7th century
The “Lo Shu” square is the first recorded magic square =

8. History is Very Important
There is evidence to date magic squares as early as the 6th century due to Chinese mathematicians
It was later discovered by the Arabs in the 7th century
The “Lo Shu” square is the first recorded magic square
The sum in each row, column, diagonal is 15 which is the number of days in each of the 24 cycles of the Chinese solar year =

9. History is Very Important
There is evidence to date magic squares as early as the 6th century due to Chinese mathematicians
It was later discovered by the Arabs in the 7th century
The “Lo Shu” square is the first recorded magic square
The sum in each row, column, diagonal is 15 which is the number of days in each of the 24 cycles of the Chinese solar year
Magic squares have cultural aspects to them as well, for example they were worn as talismans by people in Egypt and India. It went as far as being attributed mythical properties. (Thank you Wikipedia for great information) =

10. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number

11. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square

12. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square

13. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square
A normal magic square is a magic square containing the numbers 1 through 𝑛 2

14. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square
A normal magic square is a magic square containing the numbers 1 through 𝑛 2
Normal magic squares exist for all 𝑛≥1, except for 𝑛=2

15. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square
A normal magic square is a magic square containing the numbers 1 through 𝑛 2
Normal magic squares exist for all 𝑛≥1, except for 𝑛=2
For 𝑛=1 we simply get the trivial square containing 1

16. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square
A normal magic square is a magic square containing the numbers 1 through 𝑛 2
Normal magic squares exist for all 𝑛≥1, except for 𝑛=2
For 𝑛=1 we simply get the trivial square containing 1
For 𝑛=2 we would have the following square
Which would imply that
𝐴+𝐵=𝐶+𝐷 𝐴+𝐶=𝐵+𝐷 𝐴+𝐷=𝐶+𝐵 ⇒𝐴=𝐵=𝐶=𝐷.
But then this is not a normal magic square.

17. So what exactly is a Magic Square?
A magic square is an 𝑛 x 𝑛 table containing 𝑛 2 integers such that the numbers in each row, column, or diagonal sums to the same number
The order of a magic square is the size of the square
The above definition is rather broad and we usually will be using what is called a normal magic square
A normal magic square is a magic square containing the numbers 1 through 𝑛 2
Normal magic squares exist for all 𝑛≥1, except for 𝑛=2
For 𝑛=1 we simply get the trivial square containing 1
For 𝑛=2 we would have the following square
Which would imply that
𝐴+𝐵=𝐶+𝐷 𝐴+𝐶=𝐵+𝐷 𝐴+𝐷=𝐶+𝐵 ⇒𝐴=𝐵=𝐶=𝐷.
But then this is not a normal magic square.
For 𝑛≥3 we will prove that a normal magic square exists

18. Before we Start
The sum of numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is called the magic constant and is equal to
𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛

19. Before we Start
The sum of numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is called the magic constant and is equal to
𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛
This is true because the sum of all the numbers in the magic square is equal to
1+2+3+…+ 𝑛 2 = 𝑛 2 𝑛
and because there are 𝑛 rows we can divide by 𝑛 to obtain the above result

20. Before we Start
The sum of numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is called the magic constant and is equal to
𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛
This is true because the sum of all the numbers in the magic square is equal to
1+2+3+…+ 𝑛 2 = 𝑛 2 𝑛
and because there are 𝑛 rows we can divide by 𝑛 to obtain the above result
For 𝑛=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,… the magic constants are 15, 34, 65, 111, 175, 260,…

21. Before we Start
The sum of numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is called the magic constant and is equal to
𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛
This is true because the sum of all the numbers in the magic square is equal to
1+2+3+…+ 𝑛 2 = 𝑛 2 𝑛
and because there are 𝑛 rows we can divide by 𝑛 to obtain the above result
For 𝑛=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,… the magic constants are 15, 34, 65, 111, 175, 260,…
For odd 𝑛 the middle number is equal to 𝑛 2 +1

22. Types of Magic Squares Singly even - 𝑛=4𝑘+2 Doubly even - 𝑛=4𝑘
Odd - 𝑛=2𝑘+1
Antimagic - the 2𝑛+2 rows, columns, diagonals are consecutive integers (mostly open problems)
Bimagic - if the numbers are squared we still have a magic square
Word - a set of words having the same number of letters; when the words are written in a square grid horizontally, the same set of words can be read vertically
Cube - the equivalent of a two dimensional magic square but in three dimensions
Panmagic - the broken diagonals also add up to the magic constant
Trimagic - if the numbers are either squares or cubed we still end up with a magic square
Prime - all the numbers are prime
Product - the product instead of the sum is the same across all rows, columns, diagonals
And many more

23. Construction Methods
Odd orders (De la Loubère)

24. Construction Methods
Odd orders (De la Loubère)

25. Construction Methods
Odd orders

26. Construction Methods Doubly Even
1st step is to write the numbers in consecutive order from the top left to the bottom right and delete all the numbers that are not on the diagonals
2nd step is to start writing the numbers the numbers that are not on the diagonals in consecutive order starting from the bottom right to the top left in the available spots. For example for 𝑛=4

27. Construction Methods Doubly Even
1st step is to write the numbers in consecutive order from the top left to the bottom right and delete all the numbers that are not on the diagonals
2nd step is to start writing the numbers the numbers that are not on the diagonals in consecutive order starting from the bottom right to the top left in the available spots. For example for 𝑛=4

28. Construction Methods
Singly Even
The Ralph Strachey Method

29. Construction Methods Singly Even
The Ralph Strachey Method for orders of the form 4𝑛+2
1st Step – Divide the square into four smaller subsquares ABCD C A D B

30. Construction Methods Singly Even The Ralph Strachey Method
2nd Step – Exchange the leftmost 𝑛 columns in subsquare A with the corresponding columns of subsquare D and exchange the rightmost 𝑛−1 columns in subsquare C with the corresponding columns of subsquare B

31. Construction Methods Singly Even The Ralph Strachey Method
3rd Step - Exchange the middle cell of the leftmost column of subsquare A with the corresponding cell of subsquare D. Exchange the central cell in subsquare A with the corresponding cell of subsquare D

32. What Now?

33. Panmagic Square
A panmagic(also called diabolical) square is a magic square with the additional property that the broken diagonals also add up to the magic constant.

34. Panmagic Square
A panmagic(also called diabolical) square is a magic square with the additional property that the broken diagonals also add up to the magic constant.
The smallest non-trivial panmagic squares are 4𝑥4 squares such as

35. Panmagic Square
A panmagic(also called diabolical) square is a magic square with the additional property that the broken diagonals also add up to the magic constant.
The smallest non-trivial panmagic squares are 4𝑥4 squares such as
Any 2 by 2 square including the ones warping around edges, the corners of 3 by 3 squares, displacement by a (2,2) vector, all add up to the magic constant!!!

36. Panmagic Square
A panmagic(also called diabolical) square is a magic square with the additional property that the broken diagonals also add up to the magic constant.
The smallest non-trivial panmagic squares are 4𝑥4 squares such as
Any 2 by 2 square including the ones warping around edges, the corners of 3 by 3 squares, displacement by a (2,2) vector, all add up to the magic constant!!!
The above three panmagic squares are the only 3 that exist for the numbers 1 through 16.

37. Panmagic Square Continued
5 by 5 panmagic squares introduces even more magic

38. Panmagic Square Continued
5 by 5 panmagic squares introduces even more magic – quincunx
=65
=65
=65
=65

39. Magic Cube
A magic cube is a magic square but in 3-D. All of the properties are translated to 3-D.

40. Magic Cube
A magic cube is a magic square but in 3-D. All of the properties are translated to 3-D.
The magic constant is 𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛 Why?

41. Magic Cube
A magic cube is a magic square but in 3-D. All of the properties are translated to 3-D.
The magic constant is 𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛 Why?
Because there are 𝑛 2 rows and the total sum is 𝑛 3 𝑛

42. Magic Cube
A magic cube is a magic square but in 3-D. All of the properties are translated to 3-D.
The magic constant is 𝑀= 𝑛 𝑛 Why?
Because there are 𝑛 2 rows and the total sum is 𝑛 3 𝑛

43. Bimagic Square
A Bimagic Square is a magic square that is also a magic square if all of its numbers are squared

44. Bimagic Square
A Bimagic Square is a magic square that is also a magic square if all of its numbers are squared
The first known bimagic square is of order 8

45. Bimagic Square
A Bimagic Square is a magic square that is also a magic square if all of its numbers are squared
The first known bimagic square is of order 8
It has been shown that all 3 by 3 bimagic squares are trivial

46. Bimagic Square
A Bimagic Square is a magic square that is also a magic square if all of its numbers are squared
The first known bimagic square is of order 8
It has been shown that all 3 by 3 bimagic squares are trivial
Proof: Consider the following magic square and note that 𝑎+𝑖=2𝑒 because
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐 + 𝑑+𝑒+𝑓 + 𝑔+ℎ+𝑖 + 𝑎+𝑒+𝑖
=(𝑎+𝑒+𝑖)+(𝑔+𝑒+𝑐)+(𝑑+𝑒+𝑓)+(𝑏+𝑒+ℎ).
In addition, by the same reasoning we have that 𝑎 2 + 𝑖 2 +2 𝑒 2 . Thus
𝑎−𝑖 2 =2 𝑎 2 + 𝑖 2 − 𝑎+𝑖 2 =4 𝑒 2 −4 𝑒 2 =0
Hence 𝑎=𝑒=𝑖. In the same way we get that all other numbers are equal as well.

47. Multiplication Magic Square
A square which is magic under multiplication is called a multiplication magic square. The magic constants increase very fast with the order of the square.

48. Multiplication Magic Square
A square which is magic under multiplication is called a multiplication magic square. The magic constants increase very fast with the order of the square.
For orders 3 and 4 the following are the smallest multiplication magic squares

49. Word Square
A set of words having the same number of letters; when the words are written in a square grid horizontally, the same set of words can be read vertically

50. Word Square
A set of words having the same number of letters; when the words are written in a square grid horizontally, the same set of words can be read vertically
Because we speak English we are naturally interested in the ones made of English words

51. Word Square
A set of words having the same number of letters; when the words are written in a square grid horizontally, the same set of words can be read vertically
Because we speak English we are naturally interested in the ones made of English words
There are word squares of order 3 through 9 (cases 3, 4, 9 are displayed below)
B I T C A R D A C H A L A S I A
I C E A R E A C R E N I D E N S T E N R E A R H E X A N D R I C
D A R T A N A B O L I T E
L I N O L E N I N
A D D L E H E A D
S E R I N E T T E
I N I T I A T O R
A S C E N D E R S
The hunt for a word square of order 10 is still going and apparently it has been called the holy grail of logology.

52. Fibonacci Magic Square
The presentation would not be complete with a reference to the Fibonacci numbers

53. Fibonacci Magic Square
The presentation would not be complete with a reference to the Fibonacci numbers
Start with the basic 3 by 3 magic square

54. Fibonacci Magic Square
The presentation would not be complete with a reference to the Fibonacci numbers
Start with the basic 3 by 3 magic square
Replace each number with its corresponding Fibonacci number

55. Fibonacci Magic Square
The presentation would not be complete with a reference to the Fibonacci numbers
Start with the basic 3 by 3 magic square
Replace each number with its corresponding Fibonacci number
Even though this is not a magic square it so happens that the sum of the products of the three rows is equal to the sum of the products of the three columns.

56. Random Magic Square

57. Final Words
Masonic Cipher

58. Final Words
Masonic Cipher
Durer Magic Square

59. Final Words
The message is

60. Final Words
The message is
I Love Mathematics