If you’re like me, you probably breathed a sigh of relief when the days of endless math problems in high school were finally over. The long hours spent in stuffy classrooms, struggling to keep up with equations and algebra, felt like an eternity. I think it’s safe to say I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of math.

I often found myself lost in a sea of numbers, wishing I could escape to a world where logic and equations weren’t the main focus. But, as they say, everyone’s brain works differently. Some people find joy in solving complex mathematical puzzles, while others—like me—prefer the creative and free-flowing side of life.

However, something unexpected happened along the way. While I wasn’t exactly running to do math, I started to discover the excitement of solving online puzzles and riddles. These weren’t your typical math problems but more like brain teasers, designed to challenge the mind in a fun, low-pressure way.

I found myself enjoying the process of figuring them out, solving them on my own time without the pressure of an exam or a teacher looking over my shoulder. Slowly but surely, I developed a new appreciation for problem-solving—especially when I could enjoy it at my own pace.

I soon realized I wasn’t alone. Many others across the internet were just as fascinated by these puzzles as I was. It turns out, there’s a whole community of people out there who love to crack codes, spot patterns, and figure out tricky problems that seem impossible at first glance.

So, I decided to join in on the fun and put you, our beloved readers, to the test with a math puzzle that’s been leaving people scratching their heads all over the internet. Are you ready for this week’s challenge? Grab your thinking cap, and let’s dive in!

Here’s the puzzle:

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

Looks simple enough, right? But what happens when you look deeper? A lot of people online have been stuck trying to figure out how this works. Everyone’s coming up with different answers, and many are getting confused.

It’s not just about adding numbers like you might think—it’s more complicated than that. The trick is in how you approach the puzzle.

So, what’s the right answer? Well, here’s the twist: there’s no one single answer. In fact, there are multiple ways to crack this puzzle! I know, it’s a little mind-bending, but that’s the fun part.

Each method uses a different formula or pattern to find the answer, and each solution leads to a unique outcome. Don’t believe me? Let’s dive into five different ways to solve this 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
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

Pretty wild, right? The same problem can be solved in five completely different ways, and each leads to a unique result. It just goes to show that math isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.

Depending on how you approach the problem, you can end up with completely different answers. And while this particular puzzle may have you scratching your head, it’s a great reminder that solving problems can be fun, especially when you embrace the challenge.

So, which solution did you find most interesting? Do you agree with one of these methods, or did you come up with your own? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you approached this tricky puzzle!