Here is how to create a magic square. The number of squares along a side is called the magic square's order. First I will show how to create a magic square of the fifth order. This method can be used to create magic squares of odd orders.
1. Draw a square consisting of five by five squares.
2. Add a triangle of squares along each side (the yellow squares).
3. Fill in numbers in ascending order starting with one. Start in the upper square and continue diagonally down and left.
4. Move the numbers in the yellow squares (last picture) to the opposite side of the square. The colour coding in the diagram shows where the numbers are moved.
5. When you have moved all numbers, you should end up with this.
6. Remove the yellow squares.
The sum of the numbers in each row, column or diagonal is the same - 65.
The sum of a row or a diagonal in a magic square of n-th order is
Here is how to create a magic square of the fourth order or a multiple of four.
1. Draw a square consisting of four by four squares.
2. Draw the diagonals.
3. Fill in numbers in ascending order starting with the upper-left square.
4. Substitute the numbers struck by the diagonals by 17 minus the number. If you are creating a magic square of another order than four, use a number one greater than the total number of small squares instead of 17. (If you are making a magic square of eighth order, use 8 x 8 + 1 = 65 instead of 17)
5. If you are creating a magic square of another order than four (but a multiple of four), divide the large square in squares by the size of four by four squares. Draw the diagonals in the squares by size four by four as you drew the diagonals in the four by four square.
