Question

In a magic square each row, column and diagonal have the same sum. Check which of the following is a magic square.

5	− 1	− 4			1	− 10	0
− 5	− 2	7			− 4	− 3	− 2
0	3	− 3			− 6	4	− 7
(i)					(ii)

Answer 1

It can be observed that in square (i), every row and column add up to give 0. However, the sum of one of its diagonals is not 0.

As − 4 − 2 = −6 ≠ 0,

Therefore, (i) is not a magic square.

Similarly, in square (ii), each row, column, and diagonal add up to give −9. Therefore, (ii) is a magic square.