ev 795

[MatydaLover]

Another tough one this week. Nevertheless, anyone else finding it elementary so far?

p. s. Sorry to miss last week's discussion - my login was repeatedly rejected until Tuesday. Seems ok now, though.

[Christiana]

Hi, only just turned to EV, and just come on to check on an obscure word in something else when I saw your post. So not very far into it, but as you say another tough one, and I agree does seem elementary so far. I expect by now you have progressed further. All the best

[MatydaLover]

Thanks, and good luck to you. It's well worth following through. It's beyond me how the compilers can come up with such masterpieces so regularly.

[Christiana]

Me, too. It's not only the technical skill, but the imagination to dream them up which astounds me

[devadolly]

I suspect I am just being very dense this week, have done many of the clues but am totally confused by the enigma. Can somebody give me (what I suspect will have to be a fairly hefty) push in the right direction please?

Many thanks

[MatydaLover]

The square at 39 contains 2 letters from 24D, 3 letters from 38A, and 1 letter from 39D.

The square at 44 contains 1 letter from each of 43A, 44A, and 30D.

There is rotational symmetry, so that gives you another two (of the ten) squares.

If you get the anagrams, then how do you convert them to numbers? Chambers has lists.

The sides of the magic square are not necessarily aligned with the sides of the grid.

Hope this helps.

[gco2005]

There doesn't appear to be a unique solution to the magic square.

[novalis]

Still struggling with 19d which is of course a key answer. Have all the otthers and trying to resolve the magic square.

[mad max]

for 19d I have ILL (bad for one at bottom of primeval loch)
haven't done square yet

[crofter]

Sorry gco2005, but the magic square is unique.

Another excellent challenge from EV ~ and your Sherlock-esque pun did not go amiss MatydaLover. Well done!

[novalis]

Thanks for that Mad Max.

[devadolly]

Many thanks to all will have another bash though I don't have too much hope! My brain was 'out to lunch' when mathematical expertise was dished out and the words Magic Square bring on a feeling of dread - will hope for a literary compiler next week!!

Again - many thanks.

[mad max]

thanks to MatydaLover I have now been able to enter answers, and have the 10 numbers (whether I can work out the missing 6 is another matter, trial and error I suppose) thanks again, mad max

[crofter]

mad max Start working on the diagonal coming down from top LHS and the two middle columns. Let one missing number be X and the other Y. Knowing they should all have the same total leads to two linear simultaneous equations to solve. The rest fall one by one.

[mad max]

crofter thanks to you and a friend of mine (i just cant do complicated equations, my mind just goes blank) have completed

[Physicsgirl]

agree with the above posts! The clues themselves are not too tough, but keep going goggle-eyed trying to work out which squares to pick, and get easily sidetracked by letters that may not figure in the final answer to each clue. 10a,11a is giving me trouble though. It's the only row where I'm very short on answers. Currently my row reads

I??IH???RI?N but this may, I realise, be irrelevant.

Hope everyone is well and not suffering from January blues

[slaney]

Hi Physicsgirl....that looks all right so far....there is a bar before the final N.
Do you want hints / answers?

[Physicsgirl]

thanks, slaney. Trying to tidy up the grid a bit now, but still not got the full 10 to make a square. Need to think, but had a hard day at work. Any help or hint appreciated as ever - I'm out of practice and won't be submitting (hardly ever do!)

[novalis]

Hi Physicsgirl!
Hope you're well!
This should be right up your street in your alter ego as Chemistrygirl. In fact you should be in your element(s). As pointed out above, the sides of the magic square are not aligned with the sides of the grid. I would imagine that you are a far better mathematician than I am so once you have the ten squares the six blanks will present you with no problems.

[slaney]

10a is a metal.
11a is underwear with the first name of Ginger Spice within.

The letters in this row are bunched with the H....2 from 10a , 2 from 11a, in addition to the 2 from 4d.

Good luck..it's very fiddly,but worth it in the end!