Tricky looking equation is actually simple... can you spot brainteaser pattern and solve it in 45 seconds?
A seemingly easy math puzzle making the rounds on the internet may not be all that it seems as the simple solution requires somewhat complex thinking.
The brainteaser, which has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), appears to show four basic equations.
At first glance, the equation seemingly shows a pattern, one that is not easily cracked.
Can you solve the simple math riddle?
11 x 11 = 4
30 x 20 = 5
15 x 10 = 7
24 x 13 = ?
The key to solving this mind-boggling puzzle isn't applying traditional math.
These are no ordinary equations, as the three that are pre-answered are blatantly incorrect based on the laws of addition you most likely learned in elementary school.
So the key to solving this math puzzle is not necessarily getting the right answer, but getting the right wrong answer.
A seemingly easy math puzzle making the rounds on the internet may not be all that it seems as the simple solution requires somewhat complex thinking
In order to do so, you have to identify what all the numbers to the right of the equal sign have in common.
Out of the nearly 300 people that shared their final answers in the comment section of Bholanath Dutta's Thursday post of the teaser, only a handful landed on the true response.
Many who got it wrong seemed to have an understanding of what had to be done - but ultimately flopped in their execution.
Did I mention you have 45 seconds to solve this?
The trick lies in treating each equation as a riddle rather than a standard multiplication problem.
To decode the pattern, one must look beyond multiplication and instead break down each number into its individual digits.
Let’s take the first example:
11 x 11 = 4 That’s because 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4.
Next:
30 x 20 = 5 Break it down: 3 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 5.
And:
15 x 10 = 7 Add those digits: 1 + 5 + 1 + 0 = 7.
Now, using the same logic:
24 x 13 = ?
2 + 4 + 1 + 3 = 10
So, while the correct multiplication of 24 and 13 is 312, the correct answer by the puzzle’s unique pattern is 10.
In a world of fast facts and instant answers, this viral brainteaser reminds us: sometimes, you need to think inside the box - and then take the box apart.
