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Magic square of squares

Unsolved problem in mathematics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The magic square of squares is an unsolved problem in mathematics which asks whether it is possible to construct a three-by-three magic square, the elements of which are all square numbers. The problem was first posed anonymously by Martin LaBar in 1984, before being included in Richard Guy's Unsolved problems in number theory (2nd edition) in 1994.[1]

Unsolved problem in mathematics
Is it possible to construct a three-by-three magic square from nine distinct integer squares?

The problem has been a popular choice for recreational mathematicians following two articles Martin Gardner published in Quantum Magazine on the problem, offering a prize of US$100 in 1996.[2][3]. Other prizes have subsequently been offered for the first solution.[4]

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Background

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The smallest (and unique up to rotation and reflection) non-trivial case of a magic square, order 3

A magic square is a square array of integer numbers in which each row, column and diagonal sums to the same number.[5] The order of the square refers to the number of integers along each side.[6] A trivial magic square is a magic square which has at least one repeated element, and a semimagic square is a magic square in which the rows and columns, but not both diagonals sum to the same number.

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Problem

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The problem asks whether it is possible to construct a third-order magic square such that every element is itself a square number.[7] A square which solves the problem would thus be of the form

and satisfy the following equations[8]

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Current research

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It has been shown that the problem is equivalent to several other problems.[1]

  1. Do there exist three arithmetic progressions such that each has three terms, each has the same difference between terms as the other two, the terms are all perfect squares, and the middle terms of the three arithmetic progressions themselves form an arithmetic progression?
  2. Do there exist three rational right triangles with the same area, such that the squares of the hypotenuses are in arithmetic progression?
  3. Does there exist an elliptic curve, , where is a congruent number, with three rational points on the curve, , , , such that each point is "double" another rational point on the curve ("double" in the sense of the group structure for points on an elliptic curve), and , and are in arithmetic progression?

Brute force searches for solutions have been unsuccessful, and suggest that if a solution exists, it would consist of numbers greater than at least .[9]

Rice University professor of mathematics Anthony Várilly-Alvarado has expressed his doubt as to the existence of the magic square of squares.[8]

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Notable attempts

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There have been a number of attempts to construct a magic square of squares by recreational mathematicians.

Sallows' Square

Following Gardner's prize offer for anyone who could find a magic square of squares in 1996, Lee Sallows published his attempt in The Mathematical Intelligencer. His attempt is unique in that the all of the rows and columns, and one of the diagonals all sum to a square number.[10][8]

Sallows' Square[10]
12724625821472
2211329421472
7428229721472
147214721472147238307

Bremner Square

In 1999, Andrew Bremner published his attempt at the problem, and further research surrounding magic squares of squares.[11] Bremner's attempt differs from others in that not all elements of the square are square numbers, while all the rows, columns and diagonals sum to the same number.[8]

Bremner Square[11]
373228925652541875
3607214252232541875
20525272222121541875
541875541875541875541875541875

Parker square

The Parker square[12] is an attempt by Matt Parker to solve the problem. His solution is a trivial, semimagic square of squares, as , and all appear twice, and the diagonal sums to 4107, instead of 3051.[13][9]

The Parker Square, with sums shown in bold.
292124723051
412372123051
2324122923051
41073051305130513051
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Non third-order magic squares of squares

Magic squares of squares of orders greater than 3 have been known since as early as 1770, when Leonard Euler sent a letter to Joseph-Louis Lagrange detailing a fourth-order magic square.[14]

Euler's magic square of squares
682292412372
172312792322
592282232612
11277282492

Multimagic squares are magic squares which remain magic after raising every element to some power. In 1890, Georges Pfeffermann published a solution to a problem he posed involving the construction of an eighth-order 2-multimagic square.[15]

Pfeffermann's eighth order 2-multimagic square[16]
56 34 8 57 18 47 9 31 260
33 20 54 48 7 29 59 10 260
26 43 13 23 64 38 4 49 260
19 5 35 30 53 12 46 60 260
15 25 63 2 41 24 50 40 260
6 55 17 11 36 58 32 45 260
61 16 42 52 27 1 39 22 260
44 62 28 37 14 51 21 3 260
260 260 260 260 260 260 260 260 260 260
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References

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