Excel for Marketing Managers

Magic Squares

Magic
Squares

Excel Extras

I had used Magic Squares before, but I discovered quite a bit about them while

doing research for this chapter. Once you have a Magic Square built, you can

add, subtract, multiply or divide every number in the square by the same

number and still have a magic square. You can also build a magic square using

any nine consecutive numbers.

To do some investigation into this, make another magic square just off to the

right a couple of columns or so, and fill it up with the same number. You can

build formulas into the new square so that all you have to do is type in one

number, and all the other cells will automatically fill in the same. For example,

if your new square has the upper left hand corner in cell J8, type in =J8 in all

the other cells.

If you want to add a 3 to all the numbers in your solved magic square, do the

following:

1. Type a 3 in cell J8, and then highlight all the cells with a 3 in them.


2. Select Edit, Copy, (or press Ctrl+C) and then click on cell D8 (the upper left
   corner of the Magic Square).


3. Then select Edit, Paste Special, and check the boxes for Values and Add,
   and click OK. All the cells in the Magic Square have just been increased by
   3.


4. In the Paste Special dialog box, you can check Add, Subtract, Multiply, or
   Divide.

Have your students build a magic square, and then investigate. Try to build a

new magic square by transposing the rows and columns of a square they have

solved. See if they can come up with a reason as to why the sums remain the

same even though the numbers are being changed.