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How to Do a Magic Square

A magic square is a grid of numbers arranged in such a way that every row, column and diagonal adds up to the same number. For example, a three-by-three grid reading six, one, eight in the top row, seven, five and three in the second row and two, nine and four in the third row is a magic square. Every row, column and diagonal adds up to 15. Some magic squares only work with rows and columns but not diagonals, while all three directions work in others.

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a three-by-three grid on a piece of paper, allowing enough room in each square to fit a numeral inside.
- 2
  Place the number "1" in the middle space of the top row.
- 3
  Move "up" and "right" to the next square, which is the bottom rightmost square on the grid. Treat the grid as if it wraps around, bottom and top rows connecting and left and right rows touching. Place a "2" in this space.
- 4
  Move "up" and "right" again, this time to the leftmost square in the second row, and place a "3" in this square.
- 5
  Move one space down when the "up" and "right" space is already taken. In this instance, move down one space to the bottom leftmost space, and place a "4" here.
- 6
  Continue to move from space to space, moving "up and right" when you can, or "down" when you cannot, placing numbers in consecutive orders. When you are finished, the grid should read from left to right, top to bottom as 8, 1, 6, 3, 5, 7, 4, 9 2. Every row, column and diagonal in this magic square adds up to 15.

Numerology