WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Magic-Like Squares

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n
100
summands
20
4
48
28
44
32
16
8
20
40
12
28
16
24
24
36
A magic-like square of order four is an arrangement of
2
4
=16
integers in a 4×4 square such that the sum of the four numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is the same constant, the magic sum
n
.
A magic square of order four contains the integers from 1 to 16. Magic-like squares do not and some integers may be repeated. However, in these magic-like squares, all 2×2 corners, the four corners, and the 2×2 center sum to the magic sum.
The second slider helps you find the magic sum.