Magic circle (mathematics)

Yang Hui magic circles

Yang Hui's magic circle series was published in his Xugu Zhaiqi Suanfa《續古摘奇算法》 (Sequel to Excerpts of Mathematical Wonders) of 1275. His magic circle series includes: magic 5 circles in square, 6 circles in ring, magic eight circle in square magic concentric circles, magic 9 circles in square.

Yang Hui magic concentric circle

Yang Hui's magic concentric circle has the following properties

The sum of the numbers on four diameters = 147，

28 + 5 + 11 + 25 + 9 + 7 + 19 + 31 + 12 = 147

The sum of 8 numbers plus 9 at the center =147;

28 + 27 + 20 + 33 + 12 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 9 = 147

The sum of eight radius without 9 =magic number 69: such as 27 + 15 + 3 + 24 = 69

The sum of all numbers on each circle (not including 9) = 2 × 69

There exist 8 semicircles, where the sum of numbers = magic number 69; there are 16 line segments(semi circles and radii) with magic number 69, more than a 6 order magic square with only 12 magic numbers.

Yang Hui magic eight circles in a square

64 numbers arrange in circles of eight numbers, total sum 2080, horizontal / vertical sum =260.

From NW corner clockwise direction, the sum of 8-number circles are:

40 + 24 + 9 + 56 + 41 + 25 + 8 + 57 = 260

14 + 51 + 46 + 30 + 3 + 62 + 35 + 19 = 260

45 + 29 + 4 + 61 + 36 + 20 + 13 + 52 = 260

37 + 21 + 12 + 53 + 44 + 28 + 5 + 60 = 260

47 + 31 + 2 + 63 + 34 + 18 + 15 + 50 = 260

7 + 58 + 39 + 23 + 10 + 55 + 42 + 26 = 260

38 + 22 + 11 + 54 + 43 + 27 + 6 + 59 = 260

48 + 32 + 1 + 64 + 33 + 17 + 16 + 49 = 260

Also the sum of the eight numbers along the WE/NS axis

14 + 51 + 62 + 3 + 7 + 58 + 55 + 10 = 260

49 + 16 + 1 + 64 + 60 + 5 + 12 + 53 = 260

Furthermore, the sum of the 16 numbers along the two diagonals equals to 2 times 260: 40 + 57 + 41 + 56 + 50 + 47 + 34 + 63 + 29 + 4 + 13 + 20 + 22 + 11 + 6 + 27 = 2 ∗ 260 = 520

Yang Hui Magic Nine circles in a square

72 number from 1 to 72, arranged in nine circles of eight number circle in a square; with neighbouring numbers also forming four additional 8-number circles:

form out of the borders of the following 8-circles:

(NW,N,W,C)

(NE,N,E,C)

(SW,S,W,C)

(SE,S,E,C)

thus making a total of 13 8-circles in a square：

NW,N,NE,E,SE,S,SW,W,C(center),(NW,N,W,C),(NE,N,E,C),(SW,S,W,C),(SE,S,E,C)

Total sum of 72 numbers 2628,

sum of eight numbers in any 8-number cicles (13 in all)=292

sums of three circles along horizontal lines= 876

sum of three circles along vertical = 876;

sum of three 8-circles along the diagonals =876.

Ding Yidong magic circles

Ding Yidong was a mathematician contemporary with Yang Hui. In his magic circle with 6 rings, the unit numbers of the 5 outer rings, combined with the unit number of the center ring, form the following magic square:

Method of construction:

Let radial group 1 =1,11,21,31,41Let radial group 2=2,12,22,32,42Let radial group 3=3,13,23,33,43Let radial group 4=4,14,24,34,44Let radial group 6=6,16,26,36,46Let radial group 7=7,17,27,37,47Let radial group 8=8,18,28,38,48Let radial group 9=9,19,29,39,49Let center group =5,15,25,35,45

Arrange group 1,2,3,4,6,7,9 radially such that

each number occupies one position on circle

alternate the direction such that one radial has smallest number at the outside, the adjacent radial has largest number outside.

Each group occupies the radial position corresponding to the number on the Luoshu magic square, i.e., group 1 at 1 position, group 2 at 2 position etc.

Finally arrange center group at the center circle, such that

number 5 on group 1 radialnumber 10 on group 2 radialnumber 15 on group 3 radial...number 45 on group 9 radial

Cheng Dawei magic circles

Cheng Dawei, a mathematician in the Ming dynasty, in his book Suanfa Tongzong listed several magic circles