A magic square is a square grid of numbers where the sum of each row, column, and diagonal is the same. Ramanujan magic squares are special cases of these, often exhibiting additional intriguing properties.
Ramanujan's Birthday Magic Square
One of the most famous examples is a 4x4 magic square created using Ramanujan's birthday (22/12/1887):
22 87 19 11
17 9 24 89
60 35 46 7
82 53 3 74
In this square, not only do the rows, columns, and diagonals add up to 139, but there are numerous other interesting properties:
The four corners add up to 139.
The four central numbers add up to 139.
Any 2x2 square within the larger square adds up to 139.
Ramanujan's Magic Squares and Their Significance
While Ramanujan's fascination with magic squares might seem like a diversion from his profound mathematical work, it actually reflects his deep understanding of number patterns and relationships. His exploration of these squares contributed to his overall mathematical intuition and problem-solving abilities.
Would you like to explore other examples of Ramanujan magic squares, or perhaps delve into the mathematical principles behind their construction?
I can also provide information on how to create your own magic squares.
