A  [i]magic square[/i] is a  table  
[img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/7/9/3b1e2b2f5d2d4c486f57c4ad68b66f7d7e56dd.png[/img] 
in which all the natural numbers from $1$ to $16$ appear and such that:
$\bullet$ all rows have the same sum $s$.
$\bullet$ all columns have the same sum $s$.
$\bullet$ both diagonals have the same sum $s$ .
It is known that $a_{22} = 1$ and $a_{24} = 2$. Calculate $a_{44}$.
1. First, we calculate the sum of all numbers from 1 to 16:
   \[
   1 + 2 + \cdots + 16 = \frac{16 \cdot 17}{2} = 136
   \]
   Since the magic square is a 4x4 grid, the sum of each row, column, and diagonal must be:
   \[
   s = \frac{136}{4} = 34
   \]

2. Given that \(a_{22} = 1\) and \(a_{24} = 2\), we can write the equation for the second row:
   \[
   a_{21} + a_{22} + a_{23} + a_{24} = 34
   \]
   Substituting the known values:
   \[
   a_{21} + 1 + a_{23} + 2 = 34 \implies a_{21} + a_{23} + 3 = 34 \implies a_{21} + a_{23} = 31
   \]
   The maximum values for \(a_{21}\) and \(a_{23}\) are 15 and 16, respectively. Therefore:
   \[
   \{a_{21}, a_{23}\} = \{15, 16\}
   \]

3. Let \(a, b, c, d, e, f\) be the numbers in the same column and diagonal as 1. We need to show that 14, 13, and 12 are among these numbers.

   **Claim 1:** \(14 \in \{a, b, c, d, e, f\}\)
   - If not, then:
     \[
     a + b + c + d + e + f \leq 13 + 12 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 = 63
     \]
     But since the sum must be 66 (as \(34 + 32\)), this is a contradiction.

   **Claim 2:** \(13 \in \{a, b, c, d, e, f\}\)
   - If not, then:
     \[
     a + b + c + d + e + f \leq 14 + 12 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 = 64
     \]
     Again, this is a contradiction.

   **Claim 3:** \(12 \in \{a, b, c, d, e, f\}\)
   - If not, then:
     \[
     a + b + c + d + e + f \leq 14 + 13 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 = 65
     \]
     This is also a contradiction.

4. **Case 1:** \(11 \in \{a, b, c, d, e, f\}\)
   - Then:
     \[
     a + b + c + d + e + f = 14 + 13 + 12 + 11 + e + f = 66 \implies e + f = 16
     \]
     Possible pairs \((e, f)\) are \((10, 6)\) and \((9, 7)\).

   - If \(\{e, f\} = \{10, 6\}\):
     \[
     a_{14} + a_{24} + a_{34} = a_{14} + 2 + a_{34} \leq 9 + 2 + 8 = 19 \implies a_{44} \geq 15
     \]
     This is a contradiction.

   - If \(\{e, f\} = \{9, 7\}\):
     \[
     a_{14} + a_{24} + a_{34} = a_{14} + 2 + a_{34} \leq 10 + 2 + 8 = 20 \implies a_{44} \geq 14
     \]
     or \(a_{44} = 14\).

5. **Case 2:** \(11 \notin \{a, b, c, d, e, f\}\)
   - Then:
     \[
     a + b + c + d + e + f = 14 + 13 + 12 + d + e + f = 66 \implies d + e + f = 27
     \]
     Possible set \(\{d, e, f\}\) is \(\{10, 9, 8\}\).

   - Then:
     \[
     a_{14} + a_{24} + a_{34} = a_{14} + 2 + a_{34} \leq 11 + 2 + 7 = 20 \implies a_{44} \geq 14
     \]
     or \(a_{44} = 14\).

6. We need to find an example where \(a_{44} = 14\). Here is a valid magic square:
   \[
   \begin{array}{cccc}
   9 & 12 & 6 & 7 \\
   16 & 1 & 15 & 2 \\
   5 & 8 & 10 & 11 \\
   4 & 13 & 3 & 14 \\
   \end{array}
   \]

The final answer is \(\boxed{14}\).