Simple math riddle leaves people confused. Can you solve the grade-school problem in under 60 seconds?

Daily Mail​

25-05-2025

A seemingly straightforward math puzzle has left social media users scratching their heads after being shared on X.
User BholanathDutta posted the brain teaser with the caption 'Can you solve this', presenting what appears to be a simple math problem that follows an unusual pattern.
The riddle reads:
22 + 4 = 24
13 + 6 = 18
60 + 2 = 82
67 + 9 = ?
Can you solve the grade-school problem in under 60 seconds?
At first glance, the equations don't seem to follow normal mathematical rules.
Users shared their responses in the comments.
Most replies confidently stated the answer was '69', while others suggested '96.'
But the key to solving the riddle lies in recognizing that the 'answers' aren't actually the sum of the two numbers, but rather the two numbers written side by side.
For 22 + 4 = 24, the solution combines 2 (from 22) and 4 to make 24.
Similarly, 13 + 6 = 18 takes the 1 from 13 and combines it with 6 to create 18.
Following this pattern, 60 + 2 = 82 uses the 8 from 60 (6+0) combined with 2, and 67 + 9 should equal 69 by combining 6 from 67 with 9.
The final answer is 69.
The riddle joins a long list of viral math puzzles that have stumped internet users.
Earlier this month, another basic-looking math puzzle went viral for a very unexpected reason: the answers seem totally wrong - until you crack the hidden pattern.
The puzzle reads:
3 + 4 = 19
5 + 6 = 4
1 2 + 8 = 66
5 + 1 = ?
At first glance, none of these make sense.
According to standard math, 3 plus 4 is 7 - so how do we get 19?
Same goes for the rest.
It's clearly not traditional arithmetic.
But look a little closer, and you'll find a sneaky twist hiding in plain sight.
The trick is this: each equation follows the formula a + b².
That is, take the first number, then add the square of the second number.
For the first line, 3 + 4 becomes 3 + 4².
That's 3 + 16, which equals 19.
For the second, 5 + 6² equals 5 + 36 - giving us 41.
The third: 2 + 8² equals 2 + 64, which is 66.
It fits perfectly.
Now apply the same logic to the final equation.
We have 5 + 1².
That's just 5 + 1.
The final answer? 6.