Video:What Are Multiplication Magic Squares?

Transcript:What Are Multiplication Magic Squares?

Hi, I'm Jen D'Amore for About.com and this video is all about multiplication magic squares.

What Is a Multiplication Magic Square?

You may be familiar with magic squares, where adding each column, row, and diagonal gives you the same result or constant. Multiplication magic squares are similar in form, but each row, column, and diagonal is multiplied to total the same product.

Example of a Multiplication Magic Square

For example, this 3x3 multiplicative magic square has a constant product of 216. This means that no matter what direction you choose to multiply, it will always equal 216.Coincidentally, the product is also the cube of the center square. 216 is the cube of 6, or 6 x 6 x 6 = 216. The most common multiplication magic squares you will see are 3 x 3 and 4 x 4 configurations. They can be larger, but the products become massive.

How to Use a Multiplication Magic Square

Multiplication magic squares can be used on worksheets to present a unique twist on problem solving, by leaving out some of the numbers and letting the students fill them in, or multiplying each column and row themselves to experience the magic.One way to create a multiplication magic square is to base it on an additive magic square.

Tips for Teaching a Multiplication Magic Square

Using any constant integer, the number in each box becomes it's exponent. Solve within each box. Then multiply each column, row, and diagonal to find out what the magic number, or product will be for that square.

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