Simple arithmetic -- and a little knowledge of trivia -- are all it takes to solve this numerical puzzle.
Determine the answer to each of the trivia clues and then perform the indicated operation.
Then write that answer in the box corresponding to the letter of the clue.
When all the boxes have been correctly filled in, it will form a MAGIC SQUARE,
that is, each horizontal and vertical row and each diagonal will add up to the same number.
Once you've determined the magic number by completing one row,
you'll have an additional clue to finishing the others.
Some numbers appear more than once in the puzzle.
A. Rings in the Olympic symbol - Rings in a circus
B. ___ Dalmatians - Songs in Casey Kasem's countdown
C. Beetle Bailey's dumb pal + Mr. Mostel
D. Kennedy's PT boat - Piano keys
E. Caesar's "fatal day" + The IRS's "fatal day"
F. Bo Derek film + Vick's formula
G. Hours in a day / Oxen in a span
H. Men on a dead man's chest + Coins in the fountain
I. Maids a-milking x Goody __ - shoes
J. Commandments + Freedoms
K. Amendments in the Bill of Rights - ___ Inch Nails
L. Sawbuck - Maximum number of World Series games
M. Squares in tic-tac-toe x Sides on a square
N. Original U.S. colonies + Baker's dozen
O. ___-in-hand x Inches in a foot
P. Cat's lives x Kittens who lost their mittens
Q. RPM of an old record / Hitchcock's "Steps"
R. Legendary Cities of Gold + Karats in pure gold
S. A gross / Wise men
T. "___ Tears" - Degrees in a right angle
U. Number of Brady Bunch kids x Lines in a limerick
V. Witching hour x Macbeth's witches
W. Highest roulette number - Wonders of the Ancient World
X. Phillips ___ / Catch-___
Y. Points for a king in blackjack + Points on the Star of David
Solution to the Problem:
| A. Rings in the Olympic symbol - Rings in a circus | 5 - 3 = 2 | |
| B. ___ Dalmatians - Songs in Casey Kasem's countdown | 101 - 40 = 61 | |
| C. Beetle Bailey's dumb pal + Mr. Mostel | 0 + 0 = 0 | |
| D. Kennedy's PT boat - Piano keys | 109 - 88 = 21 | |
|
E. Caesar's "fatal day" + The IRS's "fatal day" |
15 + 15 = 30 | |
| F. Bo Derek film + Vick's formula | 10 + 44 = 54 | |
| G. Hours in a day / Oxen in a span | 24 / 2 = 12 | |
| H. Men on a dead man's chest + Coins in the fountain | 15 + 3 = 18 | |
| I. Maids a-milking x Goody __ - shoes | 8 x 2 = 16 | |
|
J. Commandments + Freedoms |
10 + 4 = 14 | |
| K. Amendments in the Bill of Rights - ___ Inch Nails | 10 - 9 = 1 | |
| L. Sawbuck - Maximum number of World Series games | 10 - 7 = 3 | |
| M. Squares in tic-tac-toe x Sides on a square | 9 x 4 = 36 | |
| N. Original U.S. colonies + Baker's dozen | 13 + 13 = 26 | |
|
O. ___-in-hand x Inches in a foot |
4 x 12 = 48 | |
| P. Cat's lives x Kittens who lost their mittens | 9 x 3 = 27 | |
| Q. RPM of an old record / Hitchcock's "Steps" | 78 / 39 = 2 | |
| R. Legendary Cities of Gold + Karats in pure gold | 7 + 24 = 31 | |
| S. A gross / Wise men | 144 / 3 = 48 | |
|
T. "___ Tears" - Degrees in a right angle |
96 - 90 = 6 | |
| U. Number of Brady Bunch kids x Lines in a limerick | 6 x 5 = 30 | |
| V. Witching hour x Macbeth's witches | 12 x 3 = 36 | |
| W. Highest roulette number - Wonders of the Ancient World | 36 - 7 = 29 | |
| X. Phillips ___ / Catch-___ | 66 / 22 = 3 | |
| Y. Points for a king in blackjack + Points on the Star of David | 10 + 6 = 16 |
Correctly solved by:
| 1. David & Judy Dixon | Bennettsville, South Carolina |
| 2. Tori Johnson |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |
| 3. Scott Woody |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |
| 4. Clint Lamb |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |