Firstly, think outside the box! This math riddle is not that simple. Even though there’s usually one right answer for math problems, two common solutions are causing heated debates all over the world!
Can you get it right?
Take your time, prepare a paper and a pen and start:
You you feel like having a hard time solving this riddle, scroll down for hints ;
The first solution is:
To begin with, most people will agree that 1 + 4 = 5.
Then you’ll move onto the next line, where you’ll add 2 + 5 to the sum of 5 in the equation above. That gives you the answer of 12.
On the following line, you’ll apply the same type of process. 3 + 6 = 9, then add the 9 to the sum in the equation above (12) to get the total of 21.
Finally, take the 8 + 11 in the last equation, which equals 19, and add it to the sum of the previous problem (21). That should give you a grand total, of 40!
40 is a widely accepted correct answer, but…
But there can be another right answer!(second solution)
Obviously, 1 + 4 = 5. But you could also reach 5 by adding 1 to 4 times 1.
With the second line, 2 + 2(5) = 12. This is the sum also listed in the equation above.
Moving on, 3 + 3(6) = 21. Once again, that’s the answer in the picture.
So to find the final solution using this method, you’ll add 8 to 8 times 11 to get 96.
What about your answer: do you have 40 or 96?
