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Other Magic Square Sizes: 3 * 5 * 7 * 9 * 11 * 13 * 15 * 17 * 19 *
21 * 23 * 25 * 27 * 29 * 31 * 33 * 35 * 37 * 39 * 41 * 43 * 45 * 47 * 49 * 51 * 53 * 55 * 57 * 59 *
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A 19x19 Magic Square

Scroll down to see a magic square
in which all rows, columns, and both diagonals
add up to the same magic sum (3439)

A Magic Square is a square of numbers in which every row, every column, and both diagonals add up to the same number. This number is often called the magic sum. The 19 by 19 magic square shown below has a magic sum equal to 3439.

Though magic squares can be made with non-consecutive and non-regular sequences, they are usually seen made up of consecutive numbers. To the best of my knowledge, the middle number in the sequence must be in the center square, and the magic sum will be equal to this middle number times the number of rows in the square. (In the case of 3x3 squares, I have proved that the middle number MUST be equal to one-third of the sum. See proof here.)

All odd-size Magic Squares can be made with the method shown below, which can be summarized as "start in the middle of the top and keep moving up and to the right except when you get blocked, in which case drop down and continue." The more detailed directions about creating these squares can be found further below. There are other methods for creating magic squares, but this is the easiest to learn. (There are basically only two methods of creating a 3x3 square but the larger squares have a large number of irregular variants, and probably other regular methods.)

Read more about Magic Squares

If you'd like to read more about magic squares, click one of these links to look for books about Magic Squares at Amazon.com, at Amazon.canada, and at Amazon.co.UK.

A 19-by-19 Magic Square

(Magic Sum = 3439)

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192 213 234 255 276 297 318 339 360 1 22 43 64 85 106 127 148 169 190
212 233 254 275 296 317 338 359 19 21 42 63 84 105 126 147 168 189 191
232 253 274 295 316 337 358 18 20 41 62 83 104 125 146 167 188 209 211
252 273 294 315 336 357 17 38 40 61 82 103 124 145 166 187 208 210 231
272 293 314 335 356 16 37 39 60 81 102 123 144 165 186 207 228 230 251
292 313 334 355 15 36 57 59 80 101 122 143 164 185 206 227 229 250 271
312 333 354 14 35 56 58 79 100 121 142 163 184 205 226 247 249 270 291
332 353 13 34 55 76 78 99 120 141 162 183 204 225 246 248 269 290 311
352 12 33 54 75 77 98 119 140 161 182 203 224 245 266 268 289 310 331
11 32 53 74 95 97 118 139 160 181 202 223 244 265 267 288 309 330 351
31 52 73 94 96 117 138 159 180 201 222 243 264 285 287 308 329 350 10
51 72 93 114 116 137 158 179 200 221 242 263 284 286 307 328 349 9 30
71 92 113 115 136 157 178 199 220 241 262 283 304 306 327 348 8 29 50
91 112 133 135 156 177 198 219 240 261 282 303 305 326 347 7 28 49 70
111 132 134 155 176 197 218 239 260 281 302 323 325 346 6 27 48 69 90
131 152 154 175 196 217 238 259 280 301 322 324 345 5 26 47 68 89 110
151 153 174 195 216 237 258 279 300 321 342 344 4 25 46 67 88 109 130
171 173 194 215 236 257 278 299 320 341 343 3 24 45 66 87 108 129 150
172 193 214 235 256 277 298 319 340 361 2 23 44 65 86 107 128 149 170



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How to Make Your Own Odd-Size Magic Square

  1. Draw a square with any odd number of rows and columns.
  2. Put your first number in the MIDDLE square of the TOP row.
  3. Move UP and to the RIGHT to find the position for your next number, but ...
    • if the next "position" is ABOVE a column, go to BOTTOM of that column (you can see a sample of this movement by looking at how we moved from 1 to 2 in the square above).
    • if the next "position" is to the RIGHT of a row, go to LEFT of that row (you can see this movement between (10) and (11) above).
    • if the next cell is already filled in, drop down to the cell below the number you just filled in for the next number (you can see this when you look at how we moved from 19 to the next number above).
    • if the next cell is both ABOVE and to the RIGHT of the entire square, drop down to the cell below the number you just filled in for your next number (you can see this if you look at (190) and the next number).
  4. Print your NEXT number into the new square you just moved to.
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 until the entire square is full.
  6. You can see how it works by printing this page and drawing arrows to see how it worked when I created this magic square

This Magic Square was created by John Knoderer, a webmaster and computer programmer who is available to telecommute to your location.

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