Henry Ernest Dudeney/Modern Puzzles/175 - Is it Very Easy

Modern Puzzles by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $175$

Is it Very Easy?

Here is a simple magic square, the three columns, three rows, and two diagonals adding up to $72$.

$\qquad \begin{array}{|c|c|c|} \hline 27 & 20 & 25\\ \hline 22 & 24 & 26 \\ \hline 23 & 28 & 21 \\ \hline \end{array}$

The puzzle is to convert it into a multiplying magic square,

in which the numbers in all the eight lines if multiplied together give the same product in every case.

You are not allowed to change, or add to, any of the figures in a cell

or use any arithmetical sign whatever!

But you may shift the two figures within a cell.

Thus, you may write $27$ as $72$, if you like.

These simple conditions make the puzzle absurdly easy, if you once hit on the idea;

if you miss it, it will appear to be an utter impossibility.

Sources

• 1926: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Modern Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Magic Square Problems: $175$. -- Is it Very Easy?
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Combinatorial & Topological Problems: Magic Square Puzzles: $388$. Is it Very Easy?