Generate a matrix having even sum of all diagonals in each 2 x 2 submatrices

Last Updated : 26 Jul, 2025

Given a positive integer N, the task is to construct a matrix of size N * N such that all the matrix elements are distinct from the range [1, N²] and the sum of elements in both the diagonals of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even.

Examples:

Input: N = 3
Output:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
Explanation:
Diagonal elements of every 2 * 2 matrices in the output matrix are { {1, 5}, {2, 4}, {2, 6}, {3, 5}, {4, 8}, {5, 7}, {5, 9}, {6, 8} }. It can be observed that the sum of every diagonal is even.

Input: N = 4
Output:
1 2 3 4
6 5 8 7
9 10 11 12
14 13 16 15

Approach: Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

Initialize a matrix, say mat[][], to store the matrix elements such that all the matrix elements are distinct from the range [1, N²] and the sum of matrix elements in both the diagonals of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even.
Initialize a variable, say odd = 1, to store odd numbers.
Initialize a variable, say even = 2, to store even numbers.
Fill all the matrix elements, mat[i][j], by checking the following conditions:
- If (i + j) % 2 = 0, then set mat[i][j] = odd and update odd += 2.
- Otherwise, set mat[i][j] = even and update even += 2.
Finally, print the matrix mat[][].

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function to construct a matrix such that
// the sum elements in both diagonals of
// every 2 * 2 matrices is even
void generateMatrix(int N)
{
    // Stores odd numbers
    int odd = 1;

    // Stores even numbers
    int even = 2;

    // Store matrix elements such that
    // sum of elements in both diagonals
    // of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even
    int mat[N + 1][N + 1];

    // Fill all the values of
    // matrix elements
    for (int i = 1; i <= N; i++) {

        for (int j = 1; j <= N; j++) {

            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0) {

                mat[i][j] = odd;

                // Update odd
                odd += 2;
            }

            else {

                mat[i][j] = even;

                // Update even
                even += 2;
            }
        }
    }

    // Print the matrix
    for (int i = 1; i <= N; i++) {

        for (int j = 1; j <= N; j++) {

            cout << mat[i][j] << " ";
        }

        cout << endl;
    }
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    int N = 4;
    generateMatrix(N);

    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program for the above approach
import java.io.*;

class GFG{

// Function to construct a matrix such that
// the sum elements in both diagonals of
// every 2 * 2 matrices is even
static void generateMatrix(int N)
{
    
    // Stores odd numbers
    int odd = 1;

    // Stores even numbers
    int even = 2;

    // Store matrix elements such that
    // sum of elements in both diagonals
    // of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even
    int[][] mat = new int[N + 1][N + 1];

    // Fill all the values of
    // matrix elements
    for(int i = 1; i <= N; i++) 
    {
        for(int j = 1; j <= N; j++) 
        {
            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0) 
            {
                mat[i][j] = odd;
                
                // Update odd
                odd += 2;
            }

            else 
            {
                mat[i][j] = even;
                
                // Update even
                even += 2;
            }
        }
    }

    // Print the matrix
    for(int i = 1; i <= N; i++) 
    {
        for(int j = 1; j <= N; j++) 
        {
            System.out.print(mat[i][j] + " ");
        }
        
        System.out.println();
    }
}

// Driver Code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
    int N = 4;
    
    generateMatrix(N);
}
}

// This code is contributed by Dharanendra L V

Python3

# Python program for the above approach

# Function to construct a matrix such that
# the sum elements in both diagonals of
# every 2 * 2 matrices is even
def generateMatrix(N):
  
    # Stores odd numbers
    odd = 1;

    # Stores even numbers
    even = 2;

    # Store matrix elements such that
    # sum of elements in both diagonals
    # of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even
    mat = [[0 for i in range(N + 1)] for j in range(N + 1)] ;

    # Fill all the values of
    # matrix elements
    for i in range(1, N + 1):
        for j in range(1, N + 1):
            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0):
                mat[i][j] = odd;

                # Update odd
                odd += 2;
            else:
                mat[i][j] = even;

                # Update even
                even += 2;

    # Print the matrix
    for i in range(1, N + 1):
        for j in range(1, N + 1):
            print(mat[i][j], end = " ");
        print();

# Driver Code
if __name__ == '__main__':
    N = 4;
    generateMatrix(N);

# This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar

// C# program for the above approach
using System;

class GFG{

// Function to construct a matrix such that
// the sum elements in both diagonals of
// every 2 * 2 matrices is even
static void generateMatrix(int N)
{
    
    // Stores odd numbers
    int odd = 1;

    // Stores even numbers
    int even = 2;

    // Store matrix elements such that
    // sum of elements in both diagonals
    // of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even
    int[,] mat = new int[N + 1, N + 1];

    // Fill all the values of
    // matrix elements
    for(int i = 1; i <= N; i++) 
    {
        for(int j = 1; j <= N; j++) 
        {
            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0) 
            {
                mat[i, j] = odd;
                
                // Update odd
                odd += 2;
            }

            else
            {
                mat[i, j] = even;

                // Update even
                even += 2;
            }
        }
    }

    // Print the matrix
    for(int i = 1; i <= N; i++) 
    {
        for(int j = 1; j <= N; j++) 
        {
            Console.Write(mat[i, j] + " ");
        }

        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}

// Driver Code
static public void Main()
{
    int N = 4;
    
    generateMatrix(N);
}
}

// This code is contributed by Dharanendra L V

JavaScript

<script>

// Javascript program of the above approach

// Function to construct a matrix such that
// the sum elements in both diagonals of
// every 2 * 2 matrices is even
function generateMatrix(N)
{
     
    // Stores odd numbers
    let odd = 1;
 
    // Stores even numbers
    let even = 2;
 
    // Store matrix elements such that
    // sum of elements in both diagonals
    // of every 2 * 2 submatrices is even
    let mat = new Array(N + 1);
    
    // Loop to create 2D array using 1D array
    for (var i = 0; i < mat.length; i++) {
        mat[i] = new Array(2);
    }
 
    // Fill all the values of
    // matrix elements
    for(let i = 1; i <= N; i++)
    {
        for(let j = 1; j <= N; j++)
        {
            if ((i + j) % 2 == 0)
            {
                mat[i][j] = odd;
                 
                // Update odd
                odd += 2;
            }
 
            else
            {
                mat[i][j] = even;
                 
                // Update even
                even += 2;
            }
        }
    }
 
    // Print the matrix
    for(let i = 1; i <= N; i++)
    {
        for(let j = 1; j <= N; j++)
        {
            document.write(mat[i][j] + " ");
        }
         
        document.write("<br/>");
    }
}

    // Driver Code
    
    let N = 4;
     
    generateMatrix(N);
 
</script>

Output:

1 2 3 4 
6 5 8 7 
9 10 11 12 
14 13 16 15

Time Complexity: O(N²)
Auxiliary Space: O(N²)

Analysis of Algorithms

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Generate a matrix having even sum of all diagonals in each 2 x 2 submatrices

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