Question

In a magic square given below each row, column and diagonal should have the same sum. Find the values of x, y, and z

1	−10	x
y	−3	−2
−6	4	z

Answer 1

Column total = Row total = diagonal total

∴ 1 + y + (−6) = (−10) + (−3) + 4

y + (−5) = −13 + 4

y = −9 + 5

y = −4

So 1 + (−10) + x = y + (−3) + (−2)

−9 + x = (−4) + (−3) + (−2)

−9 + x = −9

x = −9 + 9

x = 0

Now x + (−2) + z = (−10) + (−3) + 4

0 + (−2) + z = (−13) + 4

−2 + z = −9

z = −9 + 2 = −7

z = −7

∴ x = 0, y = −4, z = −7