No label defined (Q4335034)

This translation of a portion of an anonymous Arabic tract, Ayasofya 4801, dated September 2, 1250 CE, treats the construction of magic squares. The translator adapts judiciously into modern notation and inserts parenthetical amplifications to clarify the reading; a facsimile of the Arabic manuscript is appended. First, various strategies are given for the placement of \(1,2,\dots,n^2\) when \(n\) is odd, a multiple of 4 or twice an odd number. Then follows a discussion of completing magic squares of nonconsecutive integers, for example where the integers along one edge are assigned or when the diagonals have the magic sum. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0855.00012].