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Question 6

How many different magic squares can be made using the numbers 191 - 9?

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Solution
Understand the Question
  • A 3×33 \times 3 magic square places the numbers 11 through 99 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 191 - 9?

Step 1 · Find the Magic Constant

Sum of all numbers from 11 to 99: S=1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45S = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 45

Since a 3×33 \times 3 magic square has 33 equal rows, the magic constant MM is:

M=S÷3=45÷3=15\begin{aligned} M &= S \div 3 \\[0.6em] &= 45 \div 3 \\[0.6em] &= 15 \end{aligned}

Every row, column, and main diagonal must sum to 1515.

Step 2 · Find the Center Number

Let the center cell be ee. The center cell belongs to 44 lines: the middle row, middle column, and both diagonals.

Sum of these 44 lines: 4×M=S+3×e4 \times M = S + 3 \times e

Substitute M=15M = 15 and S=45S = 45:

4×15=45+3×e60=45+3×e6045=3×e15=3×ee=15÷3e=5\begin{aligned} 4 \times 15 &= 45 + 3 \times e \\[0.6em] 60 &= 45 + 3 \times e \\[0.6em] 60 - 45 &= 3 \times e \\[0.6em] 15 &= 3 \times e \\[0.6em] e &= 15 \div 3 \\[0.6em] e &= 5 \end{aligned}

The center number must be 55.

Step 3 · Determine Corner Numbers

The remaining numbers are 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,91, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. Any line through the center (5)(5) must sum to 1515, so opposite pairs must sum to 1010: (1,9),(2,8),(3,7),(4,6)(1, 9), \quad (2, 8), \quad (3, 7), \quad (4, 6)

If odd numbers are placed in corners (e.g., 11 and 77 in the top corners), the middle-top number would need to be: 1517=715 - 1 - 7 = 7 This would repeat 77, which is not allowed.

Therefore, the corner numbers must be the even numbers: 2,4,6,82, 4, 6, 8, and the edge-middle numbers must be the odd numbers: 1,3,7,91, 3, 7, 9.

Step 4 · Construct the Unique Magic Square

Diagram 1

  1. Place 55 in the center.
  2. Place 22 in the top-left corner     102=8\implies 10 - 2 = 8 goes in the bottom-right corner.
  3. Place 44 in the top-right corner     104=6\implies 10 - 4 = 6 goes in the bottom-left corner.
  4. Fill the remaining cells by completing row and column sums to 1515:
    • Top-middle: 1524=915 - 2 - 4 = 9
    • Middle-left: 1526=715 - 2 - 6 = 7
    • Middle-right: 1575=315 - 7 - 5 = 3
    • Bottom-middle: 1595=115 - 9 - 5 = 1Diagram 2

Checking all sums:

  • Rows: 2+9+4=152 + 9 + 4 = 15, 7+5+3=157 + 5 + 3 = 15, 6+1+8=156 + 1 + 8 = 15
  • Columns: 2+7+6=152 + 7 + 6 = 15, 9+5+1=159 + 5 + 1 = 15, 4+3+8=154 + 3 + 8 = 15
  • Diagonals: 2+5+8=152 + 5 + 8 = 15, 4+5+6=154 + 5 + 6 = 15

This gives exactly 11 unique magic square (up to rotations and reflections).

Step 5 · Count Variations with Rotations and Reflections

A square has 88 symmetries:

  • 44 Rotations: 00^\circ, 9090^\circ, 180180^\circ, and 270270^\circ
  • 44 Reflections: Horizontal, vertical, main diagonal, and anti-diagonal axes

Applying each symmetry yields a distinct valid magic square, giving a total of 88 variations.

Answer

There is 11 unique magic square (excluding rotations and reflections), or 88 different magic squares if rotations and reflections are counted as distinct.


Common Mistakes
  • Counting Symmetries: Confusing the number of unique magic squares (11) with the total number of distinct configurations obtained by rotations and reflections (88).
  • Center Cell Error: Assuming numbers other than 55 can be placed in the center; only 55 is shared across 44 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 1515.

More questions in FIO

Q1

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

Q2

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?

Q3

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

Q4

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?

Q5

We know that:

(a) even+even=even\text{even} + \text{even} = \text{even}

(b) odd+odd=even\text{odd} + \text{odd} = \text{even}

(c) even+odd=odd\text{even} + \text{odd} = \text{odd}

Similarly, find out the parity for the scenarios below:

(d) eveneven=_________\text{even} - \text{even} = \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_}

(e) oddodd=_________\text{odd} - \text{odd} = \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_}

(f) evenodd=_________\text{even} - \text{odd} = \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_}

(g) oddeven=_________\text{odd} - \text{even} = \text{\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_}

Q6

How many different magic squares can be made using the numbers 191 - 9?

Q7

Create a magic square using the numbers 2102 - 10. What strategy would you use for this? Compare it with the magic squares made using 191 - 9.

Q8

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?

Q9

What other operations can be performed on a magic square to yield another magic square?

Q10

Discuss ways of creating a magic square using any set of 9 consecutive numbers (like 2 – 10, 3 – 11, 9 – 17, etc.).

Q11

Using this generalised form, find a magic square if the centre number is 25.

Q12

What is the expression obtained by adding the 3 terms of any row, column or diagonal?

Q13

Write the result obtained by— (a) adding 1 to every term in the generalised form. (b) doubling every term in the generalised form

Q14

Create a magic square whose magic sum is 60.

Q15

Is it possible to get a magic square by filling nine non-consecutive numbers?

Q16

A light bulb is ON. Dorjee toggles its switch 77 times. Will the bulb be on or off? Why?

Q17

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?

Q18

Here is a 2×32 \times 3 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.

Q19

Make a 3×33 \times 3 magic square with 00 as the magic sum. All numbers can not be zero. Use negative numbers, as needed.

Q20

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 ______

Q21

What is the parity of the sum of the numbers from 11 to 100100?

Q22

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?

Q23

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?

Q24

What is the parity of the 20th term of the Virahāṅka sequence?

Q25

Identify the statements that are true.

(a) The expression 4m14m - 1 always gives odd numbers. (b) All even numbers can be expressed as 6j46j - 4. (c) Both expressions 2p+12p + 1 and 2q12q - 1 describe all odd numbers. (d) The expression 2f+32f + 3 gives both even and odd numbers.

Q26

Solve this cryptarithm:

UT+TATAT\begin{array}{rcc} & \text{U} & \text{T} \\ + & \text{T} & \text{A} \\ \hline \text{T} & \text{A} & \text{T} \end{array}
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