English

Gaussian Integers, Rings, Finite Fields, and the Magic Square of Squares

Rings and Algebras 2019-08-14 v2 Number Theory

Abstract

We show the 3 by 3 magic square of squares problem equivalent to solving quartic polynomials with certain factorization constraints over an abelian extension of the rationals. We analyze a particular case in which said extension is assumed to be the Gaussian integers resulting a new search method. Additionally, the magic square of squares is analyzed over finite fields and rings of the form Z/nZ resulting in some conjectures enumerating the rings and finite fields in which a magic square of squares can be constructed. Code is made available.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1908.03236,
  title  = {Gaussian Integers, Rings, Finite Fields, and the Magic Square of Squares},
  author = {Onno Cain},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1908.03236},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

15 pages