Really? That's cool...although I'm in precalc now, and we haven't used these at all. I dunno, maybe we will later this year (or maybe we did and I just completely missed it).

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These come very much handy when you are taking precalculus and calculus for various reasons. I am not entirely sure why they work out that way, but they allow scientists to understand wavelengths and the like.

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Ooh! I love magic squares! That's some zesty info you have there!

What fun.

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O_o

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hi,

The method u suggested does not work for 3x3 squares. and needs to be verified for others. Here is another way:

1. start from the middle of the top row.

_ 1 _
_ _ _
_ _ _

2. Go towards north-east of the square. If u cross a boudary jump to the other end.

_ 1 _
_ _ _
_ _ 2

3. Continue step 2.

_ 1 _
3 _ _
_ _ 2

4. If the process is blocked by an already filled square/ or there is no column/row to jump across , then place the no. just below the current one.

_ 1 _
3 _ _
4 _ 2

_ 1 _
3 5 _
4_ 2

_ 1 6
3 5 _
4 _ 2

_ 1 6
3 5 7
4 _ 2

8 1 6
3 5 7
4 _ 2

8 1 6
3 5 7
4 9 2

This magic square adds up to 15 in all directions. So there is a pattern after all.
If I remember this problem can be found in some books of computer science for design and analysis of algorithms. I remember studying it some time back.

I might not have been very clear, but this works for all squares of odd numbered boxes. Post ur queries in case of any clarifications.

Cheers.

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