Magic Square 4x4 Maths Number Puzzle Instructions

In 1514 the German painter, engraver and mathematician Albrecht Dürer produced an engraving called "Melancholia I". This engraving shows the winged figure of genius sitting looking very depressed! Above the figure, there is a set of 16 numbers in a 4x4 grid engraved into the wall.

These 16 numbers form what is known as a "Magic Square" which has some amazing properties. In this magic square, the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal when added together give the "magic constant" 34. Each number from 1 to 16 also only appears one time in the grid.

In this puzzle, you will be given some of the numbers and you then have to work out the rest of them and type them into the boxes. When you think you have got them all, press the "check" button and find out if you are right!

You can view the engraving on-line (once you have finished the puzzle!) by clicking this link. It shows the solution!

This Magic Square maths number puzzle is also available as a print-out using PDF files.

The printable puzzle is Magic square number puzzle [PDF file 101kB kB]

The printable solution is Magic square number puzzle solution [PDF file 103kB kB]

You can also print out a picture of Melancholia I engraving [PDF file 831kB kB]