Tag: lo shu mag

Magic squares are square arrays of numbers that have the same sum horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. It is the arrangement of numbers in an square. They were known to mathematicians since antiquity and they were believed to have mystical powers.  The most popular magic square is the Lo Shu square dated about 650 BC as shown in the first figure.

Magic squares are of different sizes. The magic squares with 16, 25, and 36 numbers are shown below. Of course there are still larger magic squares. In fact, in 1663, Muramatsu, a Japanese mathematician constructed a magic square. Some mathematicians even found ways to generate magic squares. The square above can be generated using elementary school algebra. » Read more