Nothing better than a good maths puzzle

Do you want to have fun with a great brainteaser?

Check the one bellow. It has been going viral in recent days after being shared on Facebook 🙂

1 + 4 = 5

2 + 5 = 12

3 + 6 = 21

8 + 11 = ?

The solution:

There are two possible solutions for the puzzle.

In the first possible solution, we add the solution to the previous line to the numbers on the next line, EG:

1 + 4 = 5
5 + 2 + 5 = 12
12 + 3 + 6 = 21
21 + 8 + 11 = ?

Therefore the solution is 40

In the second, we multiply the first number by the second number, then add the outcome to the first number, EG:

1 + (1 x 4) = 5
2 + (2 x 5) = 12
3 + (3 x 6) = 21
8 + (8 x 11) = ?

Therefore the solution is 96

Do you like maths? Check out the more about being a Mechanical engineer, and Nalini Joshi, a mathematician and Professor at the University of Sydney.