How does a magic square always add up the same?
The Balance Trick
How does a magic square always add up the same?
Look at this grid of numbers. Every row adds up to 15. Every column adds up to 15. Even the diagonals add up to 15! How does a magic square pull off this trick?
First, forget magic—this is about balance. Imagine you're arranging weights on a seesaw. If you put a heavy rock on one side, you need to balance it with something on the other side. A magic square works the same way: every number you place creates a debt that must be paid somewhere else in the grid.
