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{{About|the mathematical concept|the flashbulb cartridges|Magicube|the puzzle|Rubik's Cube}}
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[[File:Simple Magic Cube.svg|thumb|right|An example of a 3&thinsp;×&thinsp;3&thinsp;×&thinsp;3 magic cube. In this example, no slice is a magic square. In this case, the cube is classed as a [[simple magic cube]].]]
In [[mathematics]], a '''magic cube''' is the [[dimension|3-dimensional]] equivalent of a [[magic square]], that is, a collection of [[integers]] arranged in an ''n''&thinsp;×&thinsp;''n''&thinsp;×&thinsp;''n'' pattern such that the sums of the numbers on each row, on each column, on each pillar and on each of the four main [[space diagonal]]s are equal, the so-called [[magic constant]] of the cube, denoted ''M''<sub>3</sub>(''n'').<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MagicCube.html|title=Magic Cube|last=W.|first=Weisstein, Eric|website=mathworld.wolfram.com|language=en|access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Magic Cube|url=https://archive.lib.msu.edu/crcmath/math/math/m/m022.htm|access-date=2021-04-20|website=archive.lib.msu.edu}}</ref> If a magic cube consists of the numbers 1, 2, ..., ''n''<sup>3</sup>, then it has magic constant {{OEIS|id=A027441}}

:<math>M_3(n) = \frac{n(n^3+1)}{2}.</math>

If, in addition, the numbers on every [[cross section (geometry)|cross section]] diagonal also sum up to the cube's magic number, the cube is called a [[perfect magic cube]]; otherwise, it is called a [[semiperfect magic cube]]. The number ''n'' is called the order of the magic cube. If the sums of numbers on a magic cube's [[broken space diagonal]]s also equal the cube's magic number, the cube is called a [[pandiagonal magic cube]].

==Alternative definition==
In recent years, an alternative definition for the [[perfect magic cube]] has gradually come into use. It is based on the fact that a pandiagonal magic square has traditionally been called "perfect", because all possible lines sum correctly. That is not the case with the above definition for the cube.

==Multimagic cubes==
{{main|Multimagic cube}}
As in the case of magic squares, a [[bimagic cube]] has the additional property of remaining a magic cube when all of the entries are squared, a [[trimagic cube]] remains a magic cube under both the operations of squaring the entries and of cubing the entries  (Only two of these are known, as of 2005.)  A [[tetramagic cube]] remains a magic cube when the entries are squared, cubed, or raised to the fourth power.<ref>{{citation|title=Multimagic squares, cubes and hypercubes|hdl=2066/60411|publisher=Radboud University|date=September 2004|first1=Harm|last1=Derksen|first2=Christian|last2=Eggermont|first3=Arno|last3=van den Essen}}</ref>

John R. Hendricks of Canada (1929-2007) has listed four bimagic cubes, two trimagic cubes, and two tetramagic cubes.  Two more bimagic cubes (of the same order as those of Hendricks, but differently arranged) were found by Zhong Ming, a mathematics teacher in China. Several of these are perfect magic cubes, and remain perfect after taking powers.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.multimagie.com/English/Cube.htm|title=Multimagic cubes|work=Multimagie.com|first=Christian|last=Boyer|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=2024-04-14}}</ref>

==Magic cubes based on Dürer's and Gaudi Magic squares==
A magic cube can be built with the constraint of a given magic square appearing on one of its faces [http://sites.google.com/site/aliskalligvaen/home-page/-magic-cube-with-duerer-s-square Magic cube with the magic square of Dürer], and [http://sites.google.com/site/aliskalligvaen/home-page/-magic-cube-with-gaudi-s-square Magic cube with the magic square of Gaudi]

==See also==
* [[Perfect magic cube]]
* [[Semiperfect magic cube]]
* [[Multimagic cube]]
* [[Magic hypercube]]
* [[Magic cube classes]]
* [[Magic series]]
* [[Nasik magic hypercube]]
* [[John R. Hendricks]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Citation |last=Andrews |first=William Symes |author-link=William Symes Andrews |title=Magic Squares and Cubes |chapter=Chapter II: Magic Cubes |url=https://djm.cc/library/Magic_Squares_Cubes_Andrews_edited.pdf |publisher=[[Dover Publications]] |edition=2nd |location=New York |year=1960 |pages=64–88 |doi=10.2307/3603128 |jstor=3603128 |isbn=9780486206585 |oclc=1136401 |mr=0114763 |zbl=1003.05500 |s2cid=121770908 }}

==External links==
* Harvey Heinz, [http://members.shaw.ca/hdhcubes/index.htm All about Magic Cubes]
* Marian Trenkler, [http://math.ku.sk/~trenkler/aa-cub-01.pdf Magic p-dimensional cubes]
* Marian Trenkler, [http://math.ku.sk/~trenkler/05-MagicCube.pdf An algorithm for making magic cubes]
* Marian Trenkler, [http://www.imi.ajd.czest.pl/zeszyty/zeszyt13/Trenkler.pdf On additive and multiplicative magic cubes]
* [http://sites.google.com/site/aliskalligvaen/home-page Ali Skalli's magic squares and magic cubes]
{{Magic polygons}}
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[[Category:Magic squares]]