Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your post. The first example that you are given is exactly that, an example and not the way all magic squares need to be. This unique example has additional qualities that not all magic squares have. A magic square is better explained down farther in the lesson where it says worksheet, 1/2 way down the 2nd page. Here it states that to be a magic square all rows and columns and diagonals add to the same number. The magic number is three times the middle number in a 3x3 magic square.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to email, call or post with any other questions you might have.

Thanks for giving your family a RightStart in math.

Sincerely, Rosine