Question 6
How many different magic squares can be made using the numbers ?
- A magic square places the numbers through in a grid such that every row, column, and main diagonal has the same sum (the magic constant).
- To determine how many magic squares can be formed, we first find the unique arrangement of numbers up to rotation and reflection, and then apply the geometric symmetries (rotations and reflections) of a square.
How many different magic squares can be made using the numbers ?
Step 1 · Find the Magic Constant
Sum of all numbers from to :
Since a magic square has equal rows, the magic constant is:
Every row, column, and main diagonal must sum to .
Step 2 · Find the Center Number
Let the center cell be . The center cell belongs to lines: the middle row, middle column, and both diagonals.
Sum of these lines:
Substitute and :
The center number must be .
Step 3 · Determine Corner Numbers
The remaining numbers are . Any line through the center must sum to , so opposite pairs must sum to :
If odd numbers are placed in corners (e.g., and in the top corners), the middle-top number would need to be: This would repeat , which is not allowed.
Therefore, the corner numbers must be the even numbers: , and the edge-middle numbers must be the odd numbers: .
Step 4 · Construct the Unique Magic Square

- Place in the center.
- Place in the top-left corner goes in the bottom-right corner.
- Place in the top-right corner goes in the bottom-left corner.
- Fill the remaining cells by completing row and column sums to :
- Top-middle:
- Middle-left:
- Middle-right:
- Bottom-middle:

Checking all sums:
- Rows: , ,
- Columns: , ,
- Diagonals: ,
This gives exactly unique magic square (up to rotations and reflections).
Step 5 · Count Variations with Rotations and Reflections
A square has symmetries:
- Rotations: , , , and
- Reflections: Horizontal, vertical, main diagonal, and anti-diagonal axes
Applying each symmetry yields a distinct valid magic square, giving a total of variations.
There is unique magic square (excluding rotations and reflections), or different magic squares if rotations and reflections are counted as distinct.
- Counting Symmetries: Confusing the number of unique magic squares () with the total number of distinct configurations obtained by rotations and reflections ().
- Center Cell Error: Assuming numbers other than can be placed in the center; only is shared across separate sum lines.
- Odd Numbers in Corners: Placing odd numbers at the corners leads to duplicate values along the edges to satisfy the sum of .
More questions in FIO
Arrange the stick figure cutouts given at the end of the book or draw a height arrangement such that the sequence reads:
(a) 0, 1, 1, 2, 4, 1, 5
(b) 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
(c) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
(d) 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0
(e) 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1
(f) 0, 0, 0, 3, 3, 3, 3
For each of the statements given below, think and identify if it is Always True, Only Sometimes True, or Never True. Share your reasoning.
(a) If a person says '0', then they are the tallest in the group.
(b) If a person is the tallest, then their number is '0'.
(c) The first person's number is '0'.
(d) If a person is not first or last in line (i.e., if they are standing somewhere in between), then they cannot say '0'.
(e) The person who calls out the largest number is the shortest.
(f) What is the largest number possible in a group of 8 people?
Using your understanding of the pictorial representation of odd and even numbers, find out the parity of the following sums:
(a) Sum of 2 even numbers and 2 odd numbers (e.g., even + even + odd + odd)
(b) Sum of 2 odd numbers and 3 even numbers
(c) Sum of 5 even numbers
(d) Sum of 8 odd numbers
Lakpa has an odd number of ₹1 coins, an odd number of ₹5 coins and an even number of ₹10 coins in his piggy bank. He calculated the total and got ₹205. Did he make a mistake? If he did, explain why. If he didn't, how many coins of each type could he have?
We know that:
(a)
(b)
(c)
Similarly, find out the parity for the scenarios below:
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
How many different magic squares can be made using the numbers ?
Create a magic square using the numbers . What strategy would you use for this? Compare it with the magic squares made using .
Take a magic square, and
(a) increase each number by 1
(b) double each number
In each case, is the resulting grid also a magic square? How do the magic sums change in each case?
What other operations can be performed on a magic square to yield another magic square?
Discuss ways of creating a magic square using any set of 9 consecutive numbers (like 2 – 10, 3 – 11, 9 – 17, etc.).
Using this generalised form, find a magic square if the centre number is 25.
What is the expression obtained by adding the 3 terms of any row, column or diagonal?
Write the result obtained by— (a) adding 1 to every term in the generalised form. (b) doubling every term in the generalised form
Create a magic square whose magic sum is 60.
Is it possible to get a magic square by filling nine non-consecutive numbers?
A light bulb is ON. Dorjee toggles its switch 77 times. Will the bulb be on or off? Why?
Liswini has a large old encyclopaedia. When she opened it, several loose pages fell out of it. She counted 50 sheets in total, each printed on both sides. Can the sum of the page numbers of the loose sheets be 6000? Why or why not?
Here is a grid. For each row and column, the parity of the sum is written in the circle; 'e' for even and 'o' for odd. Fill the 6 boxes with 3 odd numbers ('o') and 3 even numbers ('e') to satisfy the parity of the row and column sums.
Make a magic square with as the magic sum. All numbers can not be zero. Use negative numbers, as needed.
Fill in the following blanks with 'odd' or 'even':
(a) Sum of an odd number of even numbers is ______
(b) Sum of an even number of odd numbers is ______
(c) Sum of an even number of even numbers is ______
(d) Sum of an odd number of odd numbers is ______
What is the parity of the sum of the numbers from to ?
Two consecutive numbers in the Virahāṅka sequence are 987 and 1597. What are the next 2 numbers in the sequence? What are the previous 2 numbers in the sequence?
Angaan wants to climb an 8-step staircase. His playful rule is that he can take either 1 step or 2 steps at a time. For example, one of his paths is 1, 2, 2, 1, 2. In how many different ways can he reach the top?
What is the parity of the 20th term of the Virahāṅka sequence?
Identify the statements that are true.
(a) The expression always gives odd numbers. (b) All even numbers can be expressed as . (c) Both expressions and describe all odd numbers. (d) The expression gives both even and odd numbers.
Solve this cryptarithm: