A (normal) magic square, containing 9 distinct positive integers, could be made as follows:
2 9 4
7 5 3
6 1 8
Note all rows/columns/diagonals
sum to 15.
Can you find the "smallest" multiplication magic square using 9 distinct positive integers where the product of all rows/columns/diagonals are equal?
(One multiplication magic square is smaller than another if its magic product is less than the other's.)
At least I think this is the "smallest"...
2 36 3
9 6 4
12 1 18
All rows, columns, and diagonals multiply to 216.
I did have a little help from the computer but only to find numbers that had at least 8 unique sets of 3 factors. (there's a bunch of them!)
Edited on July 16, 2004, 11:04 am
Solution
