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Article: "Sum" fun with squares: these squares really add up.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Highlights for Children
- Article date:
- January 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Highlights for Children, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Can a bunch of numbers have special powers? Many ancient people believed so. Groups of numbers, called magic squares, were engraved on objects, then worn for good luck or for protection from sickness.
What really makes magic squares so special? In a magic square the numbers are arranged so that each row, column, and main diagonal adds up to the same number.
A simple magic square is below.
The numbers in each row add up to 15.
4+3+8=15
9+5+1=15
2+7+6=15
The numbers in each column add up to 15.
4 3 8
9 5 1
+2 +7 +6
15 15 15