In the 3 by 3 square, we place distinct digits from 1 to 9. The number by each row and column indicates the product of these numbers.
What is the value of the center square?
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The only way we can factor 2 8 using 3 distinct digits is some order of 1 × 4 × 7 , so these 3 digits lie in the first row. Now 7 is not a factor of either 4 8 or 1 8 0 , but is one of 4 2 , so 7 must go in the upper left box. Now for the first column, since 4 2 = 7 × 6 and since 1 has already been used in the first row, the lower two boxes in the first column must be 2 and 3 in some order.
Now we cannot have 1 in the upper right box since there are no two digits whose product is 1 8 0 , thus 1 must go in the middle of the upper row and thus 4 must be placed in the upper right box. The lower two boxes of the middle column must then be 6 and 8 in some order, as this is the only way to have a product of two digits be 4 8 . Next, since 1 8 0 = 4 × 4 5 and the only way to factor 4 5 using two digits is 5 × 9 , the lower two boxes of the rightmost column must be 5 and 9 in some order.
Next, as 9 is a factor of 1 0 8 but not 1 2 0 , we must place 9 in the lower right box. Then since 1 0 8 = 9 × 1 2 and 4 has already been used, we must have 2 and 6 in the first two boxes of the bottom row, which in turn then forces 3 and 8 , in that order, into the first two boxes of the middle row. Thus the digit 8 must be placed in the center box.
The completed grid looks like
7 1 4 2 8
3 8 5 1 2 0
2 6 9 1 0 8
4 2 4 8 1 8 0