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Franklin Magic Square


FranklinMagicSquare

In 1750, Benjamin Franklin constructed the above 8×8 semimagic square having magic constant 260. Any half-row or half-column in this square totals 130, and the four corners plus the middle total 260. In addition, bent diagonals (such as 52-3-5-54-10-57-63-16) also total 260 (Madachy 1979, p. 87).

Describing his invention in 1771, Franklin stated, "I was at length tired with sitting there to hear debates, in which, as clerk, I could take no part, and which were often so unentertaining that I was induc'd to amuse myself with making magic squares or circles" (Franklin 1793).


See also

Magic Square, Semimagic Square

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References

Amela, M. A. "Structured 8×8 Franklin Squares." http://www.region.com.ar/Amela/FranklinSquares.Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. 1793. Reprinted New York: Dover, 1996.Madachy, J. S. "Magic and Antimagic Squares." Ch. 4 in Madachy's Mathematical Recreations. New York: Dover, pp. 103-113, 1979.Pappas, T. "The Magic Square of Benjamin Franklin." The Joy of Mathematics. San Carlos, CA: Wide World Publ./Tetra, p. 97, 1989.

Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha

Franklin Magic Square

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Franklin Magic Square." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/FranklinMagicSquare.html

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