7
The Magic of Magic Squares!
In this chapter, we will learn various methods to solve squares. A square is a
number multiplied by itself. Say, if we have to find the square of 7, we will
express it as 72. This means that 7 is multiplied by 7 to give us 49. I hope
this concept of squares is clear to you.
A) Squares of Numbers Ending in 5
I will now share a method with you to quickly and mentally find the squares
of numbers ending in 5. Here, we will apply a special maths sutra from
India called ‘by one more than one before’.
Say I ask you to square the number 5, it is 25 and now I ask you to square
15, which equals 225. And again, if I ask you for 252, the answer will be
625. Let me list it down for you like this:
52 = 25
152 = 225
252 = 625
Now friends, do you see a pattern here? If not, let me share it with you.
See, whenever you square any number ending in 5, the last two digits of
our answer will always be 25. And to get to the digit(s) prior to this, we
apply the formula ‘by one more than one before’.
So, in case of 152, we will multiply 1 with one more than one before,
which is 2. So 1 × 2 = 2.
So, our answer becomes 225.
Let’s now take 352.
As usual, we can simply write the last two digits to be 25. For the digit(s)
prior to this, we have 3 and one more than 3 is 4. So, we multiply 3 × 4 to
give us 12. So, our answer becomes 1225.
Let’s take one more, say 652.
Any guesses for the last two digits? Yes, 25! For the digit(s) prior to this,
we multiply 6 with 7 (as 7 is one more than 6) to get 42. So, our final
answer becomes 4225.
Now complete the table below:
Number Square
52 25
152 225
252
352
452
552
652
752
852
952
1052
1152
1252
Note: For Squaring larger numbers ending in 5, like 2252, we can multiply
22 × 23 = 506 and then add the 25 right at the end, giving us our answer
50625.
B) Squares of Numbers Close to a Base
We will now move on to solving squares of numbers close to a base like
10,100, 1000 and so on. We briefly touched upon it, in the chapter on
multiplication—now let us explore it a bit more.
Say, we must find 1012.
Step 1
Note that 101 is close to the base 100. The number 101 is more than 100 by
+ 01. So, we add this excess to 101, making the left-hand side part of our
answer 102. Also, we take + 01 because 100 has two zeroes and there
should be two digits on the right-hand side of our answer.
Step 2
Now since 100 is the base, there should be two digits on the right-hand side
of our answer. So our excess is + 01. So, we square that and we get + 01
again. This leads to our answer 10201.
Was this clear? Let us now see another example.
Say we have to find out 1022.
Let’s do this mentally!
Step 1
So, 102 is close to our base 100. Also 102 is excess of 100 by + 02. We add
+ 02 to 102, to make it 104. This is our left-hand side part of the answer.
Step 2
To arrive at our final answer, we will now square + 02, which is + 04. Now
+ 04 is the right-hand side part of our answer. Now, combining the two, we
get our final answer as 10404.
Now complete the table below:
Number Square
1012 10201
1022 10404
1032
1042
1052
1062
1072
1082
1092
1102
1112
1122
1132
1142
1152
You can even extend this method to base 1000 or more. It always works!
C) General Method for Squaring
I would now like to share with you a more general method of squaring,
where you need basic addition and basic multiplication skills. Anyone can
use this technique to find squares of two-digit figures. It’s simple and easy!
Let’s take an example. Say we have to find 372.
Step 1
To start solving the sum 372, we square 3 first. We get 9. We put it down
like this:
372 = 9
Step 2
Next, we multiply 3 and 7. It gives us 21. We also write that down next to 9.
It looks like this now:
372 = 9 21
Step 3
We now square 7. It gives us 49. We place 49 next to 21, like this:
372 = 9 21 49
Step 4
Now, all we have to do is put 21 in the middle, in the second line and add.
We just copy our middle figure 21 in our first line below. Our problem now
looks like this:
Step 5
We are now very close to getting our answer. So, once our sum is set up like
this, our final step is to add. Remember each column will give us a single
digit. So, we put down 9 from 49 to our rightmost answer digit place and
carry 4 over to the next place to the left. We then add 21 + 21 + 4 (carry-
over) = 46. We put 6 down and carry 4 to the left. Finally, we have 9 + 4
(carry-over) = 13. Our answer is 1369.
Let’s take a new example. Say we have to find 542.
Step 1
As before, to start solving the sum 542, we square 5 first. We get 25. We put
it down like this:
542 = 25
Step 2
Next, we multiply 5 and 4. It gives us 20. We also write that down next to
25. It looks like this now:
542 = 25 20
Step 3
We now square 4. It gives us 16. We place 16 next to 20, like this:
542 = 25 20 16
Step 4
Now, all we have to do is put 20 from the top line in the middle, in the
second line and add. Our problem now looks like this:
Step 5
So, once our sum is set up like this, our final step is to add. We add from the
right to the left, taking one digit at a time. From 16, we put down 6 as the
rightmost answer digit and carry 1 over to the left. We then add 20 + 20 + 1
(carry-over) = 41. We put 1 down as the middle digit of our answer and
carry 4 to the left. We finally have 25 + 4 (carry-over) = 29. Our final
answer is 2916.
ACTIVITY 1: EVALUATE
1. 702 = 2. 612 = 3. 572 = 4. 772 = 5. 202 =
6. 682 = 7. 642 = 8. 232 = 9. 242 = 10. 812 =
11. 452 = 12. 912 = 13. 322 = 14. 992 = 15. 382 =
16. 542 = 17. 192 = 18. 842 = 19. 412 = 20. 532 =
21. 712 = 22. 482 = 23. 922 = 24. 592 = 25. 732 =
26. 872 = 27. 882 = 28. 832 = 29. 892 = 30. 512 =
31. 752 = 32. 302 = 33. 462 = 34. 212 = 35. 782 =
36. 792 = 37. 582 = 38. 822 = 39. 622 = 40. 262 =
41. 222 = 42. 472 = 43. 982 = 44. 502 = 45. 312 =
46. 372 = 47. 802 = 48. 762 = 49. 402 = 50. 342 =
The Magic of Magic Squares
In a magic square grid, the numbers in each row, column and diagonal have
the same constant sum—the constant magic sum. Let us see a magic square.
In the above magic square, we see that the rows, columns and diagonals
have the same magic sum, which is 15. We also note that this is a magic
square of order 3, as there are three rows and three columns. There can be
magic squares of order 4 or more as well.
Magic squares have been around for over 4000 years or more. They have
been found in the oldest of civilizations, including China, Egypt and India.
People down the ages have believed that magic squares have mysterious
properties. People believed that magic squares cured people of illness and
hence helped them to live longer. Some people believed that magic squares
attract wealth and luck and should be there in every house in India.
In India, the 3 × 3 magic square has been used as part of rituals for ages
and if you visit the Parshvanath Jain temple in Khajuraho, you will see a
popular 4 by 4 magic square from the tenth century. It is called Chautisa
Yantra. Chautisa means 34 in Hindi and because the magic sum here is 34,
it is called Chautisa Yantra!
ACTIVITY
Complete each magic square. Use any whole numbers. Each number can be
used no more than once in each magic square.
1.
2.
3.
4.
