Ken's blog

While Jill was sitting at the Chez Antoine café concentrating on a travel magazine, Jack walked in and sat down, placing his backpack in a chair.

“Hi Jill, what’s up?” said Jack full of cheer, ordering a coffee from a waitress by sign language.

“I’m looking at this curious square with numbers in it,” said Jill scratching her head, “there is a prize to be won if you can figure out what the missing numbers along the diagonal are.”

“What’s the prize,” inquired Jack with interest.

“A two-week fully paid vacation for two on the Costa del Sol of Spain,” said Jill.

“Really!! I was just thinking of going there. Let me have a look at the square,” said Jack eagerly, extending his arm.

Jill handed over the magazine with a page open that displayed the square:

“That’s a magic square,” said Jack, “I can work it out, no problem.”

“Great, then we can send in the correct answer to the magazine right away. Maybe our answer will arrive before anyone else’s,” said Jill as she handed Jack a notepad and a pen.

“Consider it done,” said Jack with a broad smile, “my Jupiter is conjunct Venus today.”

Soon, Jill paid for the coffee, and they left the Chez Antoine in a hurry.

Can you work out the missing diagonal in the magic square?