The Euler's 8x8 magic square.
A magic square of order n is an arrangement of n^2 numbers (usually 1, 2, 3...) such that the sum of the numbers in all the rows, columns and big diagonals is a constant.
For example:
Here the sum of all rows, columns and main diagonals is equal to 15.
This is a very interesting mathematical topic that shows how chess has a big mathematical mistery. Leonard Euler, a very important mathematician, constructed a magic square of order 8, in this square if you put a knight in the 1 you can touch all 64 boxes in consecutive numerical order.
This square solves 2 big problems:
- To construct a 8x8 magic square.
- Move a knight in a chessboard visiting all squares 1 and only 1 time.
Conclusion: Math & Chess have many things in common.
-Source- Chess.com
This magic tour, which is the first ever constructed, is in fact by William Beverley published in the Philosophical Magazine in 1848. It is not by Euler (1707-1783).
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