Transum Software

Negative Magic

In a magic square the numbers in each row, column and both diagonals add up to the same total.

Instructions Magic Square Unmagic Square Magic Square Puzzle More Negatives

Here are four magic squares. Work out the magic line total for each square then fill in the missing numbers.

0

7

CorrectWrong
CorrectWrong

3

CorrectWrong
CorrectWrong CorrectWrong

6

CorrectWrong

4

-1

CorrectWrong

2

CorrectWrong

5

CorrectWrong CorrectWrong

-2

-3

2

CorrectWrong CorrectWrong CorrectWrong

-4

CorrectWrong CorrectWrong

0

CorrectWrong CorrectWrong
CorrectWrong

-3

CorrectWrong
CorrectWrong

1

-6

Check

Instructions

Try your best to answer the questions above. Type your answers into the boxes provided leaving no spaces. As you work through the exercise regularly click the "check" button. If you have any wrong answers, do your best to do corrections but if there is anything you don't understand, please ask your teacher for help.

When you have got all of the questions correct you may want to print out this page and paste it into your exercise book. If you keep your work in an ePortfolio you could take a screen shot of your answers and paste that into your Maths file.

Why am I learning this?

Mathematicians are not the people who find Maths easy; they are the people who enjoy how mystifying, puzzling and hard it is. Are you a mathematician?

Comment recorded on the 11 January 'Starter of the Day' page by S Johnson, The King John School:

"We recently had an afternoon on accelerated learning.This linked really well and prompted a discussion about learning styles and short term memory."

Comment recorded on the 2 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Angela Lowry, :

"I think these are great! So useful and handy, the children love them.
Could we have some on angles too please?"

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Example

In a magic square the numbers in each row, column and both diagonals add up to the same total. The first task is to find what that magic total is for each square.

For example, in the following square there is one line of three cells that are already filled in. The magic total can be found by adding those three numbers togather.

Negative Magic Example

Magic total = -4 + -1 + 2 = -3

Now look for a line of three cells of which two are already filled in. In this example the top row. The missing number when added to -4 and 3 will give the magic total of -3. It can be found by subtracting the two given numbers from -3

-3 -(-4 + 3) = -3 + 4 - 3 = -2

Negative Magic Example

Repeat this process by finding lines of three cells of which two are already filled in.

-3 - (-2 + 2) = -3

Negative Magic Example

Again

Negative Magic Example

And again

Negative Magic Example

And again

Negative Magic Example

Don't wait until you have finished the exercise before you click on the 'Check' button. Click it often as you work through the questions to see if you are answering them correctly. You can double-click the 'Check' button to make it float at the bottom of your screen.

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