Special thanks to Han Yang for providing this month’s Geek Challenge.
A 4x4 matrix of numbers can be devised such that when any 4 cells are chosen where none of the chosen cells share a row or column with another chosen cell, the sum of the chosen cells is 25. Below is an example of such a matrix with a chosen set of cells highlighted in yellow. The sum of the yellow cells is 25.
Here is the same matrix, with a different set of cells, where the chosen cells also add up to 25.
For this matrix, any set of 4 cells which do not share a row or column with each other will add up to 25.
This month’s Geek Challenge is to create a similar matrix where the sum of cells from 4 distinct rows and columns equals 26. There are many possible solutions. The winner of this month’s Geek Challenge will provide a correctly designed matrix, and best describe the algorithm for creating such a matrix. Hint: Don’t just repeat the same number over and over. These solutions are uninteresting.
Submit your responses to geekchallenge@dmcinfo.com.
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