No 55

Benjamin Franklin's Magic Square

This amazing square of numbers was discovered over 200 years ago by Benjamin Franklin . It has some remarkable properties. The sum of each of the eight rows and each of the eight columns is 260. But look at the numbers in each 'half-row' and in each 'half-column'. How many totals of 130 are there? And that's not all ... look at this pattern:

You might like to find the sum of the red numbers first. Now add up all the light purple numbers. Now compare these totals with the dark blue totals. Follow this up with a quick addition of all the green numbers. Finish off by comparing all these totals with the yellow sum, the dark purple sum, the light blue sum and the brown sum. A trully amazing arrangement of numbers! Now view the animation!!

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