From choice of x, y, and z we have: x11 = x + y x12 = x - z x22 = x We already showed that the sum of every column, row and diagonal is 3x Finish the top row: 3x = S = x11 + x12 + x13 = (x + y) + (x - z) + x13 = 2x + y - z + x13 So x13 = x - y + z Now let's do the bottom row: 3x = S = x13 + x22 + x31 = (x - y + z) + (x) + x31 So x31 = x + y - z 3x = S = x12 + x22 + x32 = (x - z) + (x) + x32 = 2x - z + x32 So x32 = x + z 3x = S = x11 + x22 + x33 = (x + y) + (x) + x33 = 2x + y So x33 = x - y Now do the 2 sides 3x = S = x11 + x21 + x31 = (x + y) + x21 + (x + y - z) = 2x + 2y - z + x21 So x21 = x - 2y + z 3x = S = x13 + x23 + x33 = (x - y + z) + x23 + (x - y) = 2x - 2y + z + x23 So x23 = x + 2y - z