Math problem leaves the internet scratching their heads.
If you’re anything like me, you probably feel relieved that the last time you had to wrestle with a tricky math problem or tackle algebra was back in high school.
I totally get that some people genuinely enjoy math, while others, like myself, find it quite the opposite. I like to think of myself as more of a creative type than a numbers person. But hey, we all have our strengths!
That being said, even though I didn’t particularly enjoy solving math problems in crowded classrooms filled with rowdy kids, I’ve surprisingly found some joy in tackling online math challenges whenever I come across them. I take my time with them, no rush at all, and I’ve grown quite fond of working through those internet puzzles and riddles.
And I know I’m not alone in this! It seems there’s a whole community of people who take pride in their ability to recognize patterns and solve complex math problems.
With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to challenge our wonderful readers with a brain-teasing problem that has left many scratching their heads online.
So, are you ready to put on your thinking cap? Prepared for this week’s math challenge? I certainly hope so… because here it comes!
If 1+4=5, 2+5=12, and , then what is the value of 5+8?
Perhaps it’s easier if you see it written out as follows:
1+4=5
2+5=12
3+6=21
5+8=?
It seems that this particular issue has left many people on the internet puzzled, with opinions divided on what the right solution actually is. Much of it hinges on your approach to the problem; the specific method you choose can significantly influence your chances of arriving at the correct answer.
So, what’s the bottom line? There isn’t just one right answer! In fact, our findings suggest there are several valid solutions. If you’ve tried to solve the problem yourself and are curious to see if you got it right (or if, like me, you found it so frustrating that you just need the answer), check out the five different strategies below for tackling the problem.
Solution one
1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 2 + 2(5) = 12
3 + 6 = 3 + 3(6) = 21
5 + 8 = 5 + 5(8) = 45
ALGORITHM: A + A(B) = C
ANSWER = 45
Solution two
1 + 4 = 1 + 4 + (0) = 5
2 + 5 = 2 + 5 + (5) = 12
3 + 6 = 3 + 6 + (12) = 21
5 + 8 = 5 + 8 + (21) = 34
ALGORITHM: A + B + C’ = C, where C’ is the previous answer
ANSWER = 34
Solution Three
1 + 4 = 5 = 5
2 + 5 = (5 + 2) + (5) = 12
3 + 6 = (7 + 2) + (12) = 21
5 + 8 = (9 + 2) + (21) = 32
ALGORITHM: for {X=5, C = X + C’ , X = X+2 };, where C’ is the previous answer. A and B not used in equation,
ANSWER = 32
Solution Four
1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 7 (base 5) =12
3 + 6 = 9 (base 4) = 21
5 + 8 = 13 (base 3) = 111
ALGORITHM: for {X=6, C = (A + B)^(10 -> X), X -1} (First answer in Base6, then Base 5, then 4, etc…)
ANSWER = 111
Solution Five
1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 7 (base 5) =12
3 + 6 = 9 (base 4) = 21
4 + 7 = 11 (base 3) = 102
5 + 8 = 13 (base 2) (aka binary) = 1101
ALGORITHM: for {X=6, C = (A + B)^(10 -> X), X -1} (First answer in Base6, then
Base 5, then 4, etc…including “missing” numbers
ANSWER = 1101
What was your answer? Did it match any of the options listed above? We’d love to hear from you in the comments on Facebook!
