Deceptively simple math riddle stumps the internet. Can you solve it under a minute?
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.
So while the setup looks like a string of incorrect math problems, it's actually a clever brain teaser based on a consistent, hidden rule.
The beauty of this riddle is that it plays on your instinct to distrust the obvious.
In reality, the answer is right there — you just have to see math from a different angle.
The final answer? 6.
Whether you got the answer right or not, you have a shot at redemption.
Do you think you have what it takes for another brainteaser?
The puzzle above, which has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), appeared to show four basic equations.
Many attempted to crack its mysterious pattern but it defied conventional mathematics - but there was a catch.
At first glance, the equation may seem simple, but it's baffled online users:
312=36
412=47
512=58
612=?
Social media users frantically tried to figure out the correct way to answer the question.
Several users believed they'd cracked the code.
The most popular answer was '69' with hundreds of users responding with the same answer.
However, not everyone agreed on how to reach this conclusion.
'Use the first number as the 10s place, then add the 3 numbers for the 1s place. So 69,' one user replied. 'They explained their thought process clearly.'
Another user reached the same conclusion through a different approach.
'3+1+2=6. 4+1+2=7. 5+1+2=8. 6+1+2=9. Answer: 69'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Divisive US Open mixed doubles was a surprise success but must change to survive
'Spectacular awaits' was the tagline adorning every advertising hoarding inside Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong for this week's revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament. The final verdict may be slightly more lukewarm. Wednesday night's result was victory for the defending champions and only actual mixed doubles team, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassorri. It was also a win both for doubles specialists, who face an uphill battle even to be taken seriously, and for tennis purists everywhere. And something of an embarrassment for the US Open, which made a big song and dance of the $1m prize pot in order to attract singles stars, only to see none of its top players take home the cheque in the end. Not that the tournament would admit this experiment didn't quite go to plan, of course. In other ways the event was a roaring success: cheap tickets, headline names, and the novelty factor attracted healthy crowds, with Arthur Ashe packed for the final, and the scheduling meant all eyes were on the event rather than any clashing singles encounters, an important boon for the sport. The tennis itself on show – while often not the highest quality – proved just how exciting mixed doubles can be, even when played by a host of teams hastily scrambled together. Vavassori said after his triumph: 'These two days will be really important for doubles in the future. We showed that doubles players are great players and this product can grow.' But the fast-four, no-ad, final set tiebreak-format, the tiny draw, and the fact that the entire first round and quarter-finals were condensed into one day, inevitably cheapened the product. This had the feel of a contrived show, an eye-catching gimmick; it never once felt like a real grand slam. Even participating players Jack Draper and Karolina Muchova called it an 'exhibition', a telling slip of the tongue. Sure, the semis and finals had a more serious feel than the knockabout on day one. But it'd be hard to argue that any of the singles stars were playing for the prestige and honour of a grand slam title, rather than the money. Which makes a fun-and-games exho feel quite sad. The US Open may regard itself as the most forward-thinking of the slams, but there's a fine line between innovation and completely reinventing the wheel. The majors are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport, a test of human endurance, tactical skill and mental resilience. It'd be hard to call this event that. Whether the executives think it's an experiment worth repeating, as seems likely, we'll have to wait and see. But if they do push on with their 'reimagined' slam, it shouldn't be without further changes. The tournament was beset with problems from the beginning, with players including major draws Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff pulling out, nullifying the hype as star names swapped in and out. While the idea of watching the world's best singles stars playing together is hugely entertaining, the pairings were meaningless. Caty McNally admitted after her first round win: 'Sunday night I was home in Cincinnati and my agent called me, and he said you have 60 seconds to tell me if you want to play with Lorenzo Musetti.' The last-minute combinations – not helped by the prolonged 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati – meant that the majority of teams in action at Flushing Meadows did not even practice before taking to the court, justifying the criticism of many established doubles players that this was never a serious event. Naomi Osaka even turned up for her first-round match in a practice kit. The obvious exception to that lack of effort was Errani and Vavassori. Wholly expectedly, they had a point to prove, and dumped out second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz (amazingly, the only actual mixed doubles pairing wasn't seeded) in 40 minutes. The idea that a grand slam doubles match can take 40 minutes makes a mockery of the entire thing. 'We were playing for the doubles teams who could not be here,' Vavassori said afterwards. 'We were the team that could lose everything,' he added after the final. And unsurprisingly, they produced the best tennis of the week. Of all the matches, Draper/Jessica Pegula vs Carlos Alcaraz / Emma Raducanu had the biggest star quality, and it was an entertaining showing. But it was notable how much the tennis quality dropped off from the Andrey Rublev/Muchova vs Errani/Vavassori match. Not coincidentally, that encounter starred the only pairing of real doubles players, plus a team whose skill sets suit the doubles format exceptionally well. As beaten finalist Iga Swiatek said: 'You proved that mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players, I guess.' Then there's the fact that the tournament was scuppered before it even began by the never-ending disasterclass that is tennis scheduling, with Cincinnati champions Swiatek and Alcaraz given 24 hours to recover before starting play in New York on Tuesday. The ailing Jannik Sinner 's withdrawal meant that his partner Katerina Siniakova, a grand slam and Olympic mixed doubles champion, was forced out of the event. Siniakova then suffered the financial double-whammy of not receiving any of the prize pot in New York, as well as not being able to play in this week's WTA event in Cleveland. Her share of the loot at the US Open would instead go to Danielle Collins, a former top-10 singles player who has raised eyebrows by repeatedly bragging about the expensive holidays her winnings pay for. Collins can do what she likes with her money, of course, but it feels profoundly unjust that doubles players, who scrape a living doing an equally demanding and worthwhile sport, have been deprived of a significant injection of cash. For all that players bang on about increasing their share of tournament revenue, the usual suspects were silent on that subject this week. The US Open is a business and sees this as a commercial enterprise, but it is sport first and foremost, and players' livelihoods are at stake. Perhaps the way forward is to have both events co-exist: this as a fun exhibition, designed to attract more eyeballs onto a lesser-known discipline, with a real mixed doubles event – under usual grand slam rules, with a bigger draw based on doubles rankings – in its usual second-week spot. That way everyone wins: the singles players get their paycheck, spectators get entertaining combinations and more tennis, and the doubles specialists get to do their job, playing for the prestige of a major title, with no asterisk attached.
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Celebrities promote the trend of the summer in the skimpiest swimwear EVER as they slip into tiny thong-style bikinis on their luxury holidays
Once considered a niche or risqué choice for the boldest beachgoers and exotic locales, thong-style bikinis have become a dominant force in mainstream swimwear — and reality television is playing a key role in the shift. Programs like Love Island, known for their sun-soaked villas and highly curated fashion, have helped normalise and popularise the barely-there bikini trend among a younger, style-conscious audience. As social media amplifies these looks beyond the screen, retailers and designers are responding to the growing demand, signalling a broader change in cultural attitudes toward body confidence and beachwear. The once-daring silhouette is now a go-to summer staple. Whether it's on your Instagram feed, the local pool, or high-street shop displays, there's no denying: less coverage is more in 2025. Today a search for a 'thong bikini' results in 187 different options on online fashion retailer ASOS, offering everything from high-leg to side-tie options. Over the past few years, A-list celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, along with Emily Ratajkowski, Lady Gaga and Nicole Scherzinger, have promoted the trend in their own sizzles shots. Infleuncer Hailey, 28, sent her fans wild over her perky bottom in bikini photos when she posted a selection in barely-there yellow swimwear recently. The model was in the skimpy two piece as she enjoyed a holiday on the Spanish island of Mallorca, and left little to the imagination in her beachwear choice. Hailey was face forward as she posed away on a boat as she promoted her lip gloss line for her billion dollar brand Rhode. Her pals Kylie Jenner and Carolyn Murphy hit the like button while fans commented: 'Stunning gorgeous perfect woman,' 'Nice booty,' and 'Just insane, what an amazing woman.' Another added: 'No way this lady has a baby anytime recently?' Another remarked: 'Feels illegal to be this cute', which was followed by 'is this illegal?' Trend setter Kim Kardashian has long been a pioneer of the G-string look, previously littering her Instagram page with pictures of her in the scanty item. A memorable set of photos show Kim in the tiny thong cartwheeling across a beach while on holiday, while also sporting a fitted tank. The 44-year-old star showcased her backside in a tiny black bikini thong with a T-shirt she tied behind her so that it clung to her figure. It takes a lot of body confidence to rock a thong bikini, but plenty of other celebrities have also sported the trend with a booty-baring backside. Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian has become a queen of thong bikinis, most notably for confirming her early romance with Travis Barker while wearing one. As Kourtney wrapped herself around Travis in the passionate display, captioning the photograph as 'just like heaven', in a post which reached £5million likes. The memorable announcement told the world that they were wildly in love after first confirming their romance months prior. Kourtney again flaunted the trend the following years in a series of photos wear she showed off her peachy bottom in another skimpy piece. Other stars who have embraced the teeny tiny bikini include Emily Ratajkowski, who has previously described herself as an exhibitionist. She said: 'I've always been drawn to overexposure. Emily wrote in her 2021 collection of essays, My Body: 'Making myself big gives me a sense of security. Be the loudest in the room, the most opinionated, the one in the most revealing dress. Do the most.' 'Being big also means becoming a target,' she continued.
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘She did it, big time': Ilona Maher's road to becoming rugby's biggest breakout star since Lomu
One Saturday in September 2014, the women's rugby team from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut travelled to Norwich, Vermont. On the home team, a powerful 18-year-old prop scored three tries in a convincing win. Quinnipiac coach Becky Carlson turned to her assistant. 'Oh man,' she remembered saying. 'Who's the kid in the pink scrum cap? I'd give my right arm to have her. 'And then that same fall, I had a voicemail. I saved it. And she sounds like a little kid. 'Hello, Coach Carlson, this is Ilona Maher. I just wanted to call and tell you I want to transfer from Norwich to Quinnipiac. I'm a nursing student. I would like for you to call me back.' 'And I was like: 'I didn't have to give my right arm.'' A decade later, many would give their right arm for time with Ilona Maher. Ahead of a World Cup in England set to take the women's game to new audiences, the 5ft 10in US center is a global star. Followed by millions on social media, a reality TV contestant and swimsuit model broadcasting a message of body positivity, the kid in the pink scrum cap has become a phenomenon – easily rugby's biggest breakout star in the 30 years since the All Blacks wing Jonah Lomu stormed the men's stage. Maher was born in Burlington, Vermont, in August 1996, a year after Lomu lit up his World Cup in South Africa. Michael and Mieneke Maher had three daughters, all athletic. In high school, in her dad's words, Ilona became 'a multi-sport star: starting pitcher for the softball team, state all-star, state all-star for field hockey, state all-star for basketball. 'But when she got to senior spring, she didn't like the way the softball program was … in terms of the lack of exercise. She would say: 'Dad, they kept us for two-and-a-quarter hours, they didn't ever sweat it once. I'm not going to do it.'' The Mahers had a rule: you've got to play something. Ilona considered lacrosse or track but there was rugby too. Michael Maher found the game at college and stayed with it, propping for Mad River RFC, a club outside Stowe. While Michael played and refereed, Ilona spent a lot of time on the sidelines. 'There was a rugby programme at the other high school in Burlington that allowed people from different high schools to come to it and was coached by friends of mine,' Michael Maher said. 'Ilona decided to try that. Phone calls started right away.' US college sports are serious business, coaches competing to recruit the best of the best. Ilona chose Norwich, an hour south of home, once a military school. Her first year brought success on the field but the culture wasn't a fit. And so she placed that fateful call to Quinnipiac, a small college in Hamden, CT. Quinnipiac women's rugby had varsity status, bringing funding and focus. Most importantly to Maher, the program was led by Carlson, a coach widely known for her dedication to success on the field and equality with the men's game off it. As Maher described it to the Guardian in July, before a US national team game against Fiji in Washington: 'Having a force like that behind you, who believes in you, believes that as a program we deserve more funding, as women we deserve more, that has kind of carried over.' Carlson switched Maher from prop to center, her size and speed propelling the Bobcats to three national titles and herself to the MA Sorensen award for best women's collegiate player. Maher got her nursing degree, top of the class, alongside an intense rugby schooling. As Carlson described it, for three years, Maher and her teammates 'got up at five in the morning to lift. You have breakfast, you have training … two sessions a day. You're still talking about going through rigorous courses with nursing and all the pre-science they take. You're doing strength and conditioning, you're doing agility, you're going to practice. You're watching game film. All of it.' Maher graduated in 2018. There was no professional 15-a-side option for women but sevens had Olympic status. As her father tells it: 'She said: 'You know, Dad, I'm not done. I want to keep going, I think I can make the Eagles Sevens.' Which to me seemed a little funny, because I think of that as a skinny person's game. But boy, she just worked at it. She stayed so fit and she did it, big time.' In 2018, Maher made her US debut in Paris. Covid intervened in 2020 but at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Maher made an impact, her play and her social media posts attracting a growing following. In 2024, at the Paris Games, the Eagles took bronze with a thrilling win over Australia, Maher's muscular contribution celebrated alongside widely shared TikTok videos from the athletes' village complete with her personal hashtag: #BeastBeautyBrains. Back home came lift-off: competing on Dancing with the Stars, posing for Sports Illustrated, endorsing Kamala Harris, launching her own line of cosmetics. Wanting to play 15s at the 2025 World Cup, she signed a short‑term contract with Bristol in England where she attracted record Premiership crowds before flying home. In July, at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles, ESPN named Maher Best Breakthrough Athlete. From the podium, she told fans: 'Strong is beautiful. Strong is powerful. And I hope more girls can feel how I feel … Take up space. Pitch it faster. Run harder. Put another plate on the bar and never tone it down.' A few days later, in DC, more than 15,000 paid to see Maher and the Eagles face Fiji — the Ilona effect clearly moving from the digital realm to the real world. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I don't know if anybody could quantify it,' Bill Goren, USA Rugby CEO, says of her influence. 'She has made a massive impact on our community, especially our young women who are engaging in a game they probably never would have otherwise.' Similarly, Sally Horrox, director of women's rugby for World Rugby, saluted how Maher had 'come out of the rugby bubble' and entered the American sporting consciousnessto become 'the eighth-most marketable sports property globally'. Amid pomp and circumstance in DC, pressing flesh as cameras flashed, Maher sometimes seemed slightly uneasy, at least with her press. Frustrated by the Eagles' stuttering play, or her own performance, or just the questions thrown her way, her fierce edge was on display. From afar, Carlson looked on. She has experienced frustrations of her own amid 15 years at the sharp end. When Maher was there with her, she felt similar pressures. 'We would go from these really big peaks to these really deep chasms,' Carlson said. 'It was like: 'Yes, this is something I can do, this is what I want to do, no, I can't do this.' I'm sure this is the story of a lot of high-profile athletes that we never see, because social media is what it is – it's beautiful, everybody was birthed perfect, there were never any hard decisions, never any hard conversations.' In reality, she says, Maher's path to stardom has been 'really hard'. Seeking to help her athlete, Carlson 'had a long conversation with one of my really good friends, Becky Burleigh, who coached [record-setting USA striker] Abby Wambach at Florida. I would be, like: 'How did you coach Abby through this?' Because Abby was very similar to Lo in stature, in the way she played, but also in this other sinking feeling of self doubt that never projected anywhere else. That's not something that's usually part of Ilona's story.' Nor, sometimes, is Maher's status as just another player. Before the Fiji game, at a gala dinner near the White House, Maher was in demand but stayed close to her fellow Eagles, dressed in uniform track jacket, jeans and sneakers, blending in when all were called onstage. She and sisters Olivia and Adrianna – co-hosts of a podcast, House of Maher – regularly speak of the need to stay grounded. Michael and Meineke Maher are certainly so, radiating positivity. At the World Cup, the American women face a stern test. Samoa should be beaten but Pool A also includes Australia and England, overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy. Next Friday, the Eagles will kick off against the Red Roses in Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light. Fortunately for the US, their star is well used to fame's bright glare. At the DC gala dinner, at the Maher family table, Michael Maher looked back again to his daughter's days at college, in the program that made her. 'Ilona came in, led Quinnipiac in tries for three years,' he said. 'But more important, she led in assists for three years too. Ilona loves being a playmaker. 'All these people that were pooh-poohing her for wanting to play 15s, saying she doesn't know what she's doing? They should see her college record. She's the complete package.'
