Ben Franklin and Magic squares

[Christan]

I have a Dover book on magic squares. They were a passion of Ben Franklins. He was very bright and left alot of things unsaid .He knew that the Experiment called the Constitution had a time limit placed on it. The book is Magic Squares and cubes by W.S Andrews. You know playing with the numbers themselves is easier than trying to put them on a computer. These machines have a way being unsettling to the process at times. I do like to take time off and just read printed material offline .So Relaxing. Peace Christan

[Richard Amiel McGough]

I have a Dover book on magic squares. They were a passion of Ben Franklins. He was very bright and left alot of things unsaid .He knew that the Experiment called the Constitution had a time limit placed on it. The book is Magic Squares and cubes by W.S Andrews. You know playing with the numbers themselves is easier than trying to put them on a computer. These machines have a way being unsettling to the process at times. I do like to take time off and just read printed material offline .So Relaxing. Peace Christan
Hi Christan,

I haven't seen that book, but I know magic squares have facinated a lot of very smart folks over the centuries. The most famous is probable the one shown in Durer's engraving called "Melancholia (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/DuerersMagicSquare.html)" published in 1514 AD:

http://www.math.umd.edu/~atma/durer23.jpg

Here are the numbers in his magic square:

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/DurersMagicSquare_1000.gif

Note the digits of the date of publication (1514) in the two central cells of the bottom row.

Do you see any significance in magic squares, or are they just a mathematical recreation?

Richard

[Christan]

Loaded question Ram. Mathematical Recreation is fun but much more than that. For instance the Chinese Generals historically related number games to strategy on the field. Omar Bradley used to work differential calculus equations to calm his mind. I think Franklin was doing the same with squares .He really was behind the scenes in Europe doing his thing for the revolution . Anything to do with order is essential to the soul. Which reminds me I mean to factor the number of days old I am still. I do it daily as we are directed to number our days in Psalms
As there are numbers all around us I am constantly paying attention to patterns. Incidentally My dad was heavily into numbers. The greatest gift he gave me was making me figure it out myself. I threw some real tantrums I will tell you as a youth when he wouldn't actually give me the answer. Cried and cried. Whenever I see the Number 34 I think of Tov first. Interesting you show me that .It did make me remember my dear old dad. He would whistle melancholy baby all the time. Are you familiar with it ? " Once in a while wont you try to save a little thought for me" He is in heaven now & I see him but I cant touch him .
Numbers are like oil . Primes are stones. Eben 53 in simplified gematria. Its easier on the mind as far as just doing in your head without pen and paper. Incidentally dont you find a nice pen and quality paper a luxury ? I do:) Peace .Christan

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Loaded question Ram. Mathematical Recreation is fun but much more than that. For instance the Chinese Generals historically related number games to strategy on the field. Omar Bradley used to work differential calculus equations to calm his mind. I think Franklin was doing the same with squares .He really was behind the scenes in Europe doing his thing for the revolution . Anything to do with order is essential to the soul. Which reminds me I mean to factor the number of days old I am still. I do it daily as we are directed to number our days in Psalms

I agree completely. I find it very restful and calming to study mathematics, especially Number Theory and Galois Group Theory. And the wonder of it all is that things we learn while "relaxing" our minds often have profound applications in a wide variety topics from Biology to Biblical Studies.

I haven't ever counted my days. I think that's a neat idea - thanks! :sunny:


As there are numbers all around us I am constantly paying attention to patterns. Incidentally My dad was heavily into numbers. The greatest gift he gave me was making me figure it out myself. I threw some real tantrums I will tell you as a youth when he wouldn't actually give me the answer. Cried and cried. Whenever I see the Number 34 I think of Tov first. Interesting you show me that .It did make me remember my dear old dad. He would whistle melancholy baby all the time. Are you familiar with it ? " Once in a while wont you try to save a little thought for me" He is in heaven now & I see him but I cant touch him .
Numbers are like oil . Primes are stones. Eben 53 in simplified gematria. Its easier on the mind as far as just doing in your head without pen and paper. Incidentally dont you find a nice pen and quality paper a luxury ? I do:) Peace .Christan
Thanks for sharing those personal details. It adds richness to your "online personality." As for a "nice pen" I have always been partial to a fancy mechanical pencil that is always sharp because the lead is thin.

It's nice getting to no you Christan,

Richard

[Christan]

I am so glad to be here. As for the personal sharing , I spent time online trying out all kinds of characters for size. But I always felt the need to be personal at least on my part because I am such a Space Cadet. Now I am just me. I remember when I was 17 in the cyclotron at Berkeley for a field trip and then going home wondering what it was all about .Later that summer I looked up to the sky while on some scaffolding against the back of the house adn told God if you exist prove it. Then I asked for all the bad first then the good. I lost dad a few years later in 85. Still waiting for the good in many ways Melancholy is no stranger to me.. I live 4 blocks from that old house .We still own it . I have been literally walking a small section of turf for over 13 years. Lived here in North Berkeley for over 43 of them . Its like a huge computer Richard. The University Mind is really something to behold. The Logo of UCB is Fiat Lux. Peace Christan PS Berkeley has been known in the past as the city of churches. Huge GTU