Math problem leaves the internet scratching their heads

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be thrilled to know that the last time you had to solve a tricky math problem was probably way back in high school. And I can bet you’re not missing those headaches at all!

I know there are some people out there who actually enjoy math—who find joy in solving equations and puzzling over algebraic formulas. But I have to admit, I’m not one of those people.

I’ve always been more of a creative soul, someone who likes to think outside the box and express myself through art, writing, or any number of other creative outlets. Math, with its strict rules and precise formulas, was never my thing.

But here’s the twist—I’ve found myself getting surprisingly hooked on solving online puzzles! It’s not something I ever expected, but there’s something strangely satisfying about tackling internet riddles at my own pace.

I’m not rushing, and there’s no one looking over my shoulder. It’s just me and the puzzle, and for some reason, I’ve started to really enjoy it.

I’m not alone in this either. There’s a whole bunch of people out there who absolutely love solving these tricky problems. They pride themselves on their ability to spot patterns, make connections, and solve math puzzles that would leave most of us scratching our heads.

That’s exactly why we decided to challenge our readers with a mind-bending puzzle that has been making its rounds on the internet, leaving a lot of people perplexed. So, are you ready to put on your thinking cap and give it a shot? I sure hope so, because here it comes!

Take a look at this:

1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 12
3 + 6 = 21
5 + 8 = ?

It looks simple enough, right? But wait—something about this doesn’t quite add up. People across the internet have been trying to crack this one, and the answers? Well, they’re all over the place. The way you approach this puzzle has a lot to do with how you figure it out.

Here’s the thing: there isn’t just one right answer! That’s right—there are multiple ways to solve this problem. After doing a little research, we found several different methods that all lead to different answers.

If you’ve already had a go at the puzzle and want to check your answer, or if you’re like me and you’ve been left so frustrated that you just have to know the solution, keep reading! We’ve got five different ways to solve this brain teaser.

Solution One

Let’s start with the first method:
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

Now, for a different approach:
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

Here’s another take on the problem:
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 are not used in the equation.
ANSWER: 32

Solution Four

Let’s get a little more technical with this one:
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 Base 6, then Base 5, then Base 4, etc.)
ANSWER: 111

Solution Five

And one more for the road:
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) (binary) = 1101

ALGORITHM: for {X=6, C = (A + B)^(10 -> X), X -1} (First answer in Base 6, then Base 5, then Base 4, and so on, including “missing” numbers)
ANSWER: 1101

As you can see, this puzzle is full of surprises, and the solution depends entirely on how you look at it. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes math puzzles so exciting!

What do you think? Do you have your own solution, or did one of these answers surprise you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!