18-05-2025
Deceptively simple math riddle stumps the internet. Can you solve it under a minute?
A basic-looking math puzzle is going 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.
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'
