The math puzzle was shared on Facebook just two weeks ago, and has gotten millions of comments and shares. But can you figure it out?

Facebook math problem
Randall Jones, Facebook
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Randall Jones from Columbus, Ohio posted the quiz on Facebook on April 18th, noting that "only one in a thousand will get it."

Within seconds, I concluded that 40 was the right answer -- so I'm one in a thousand, right? Others are arguing that the answer is 96. Still, many are left scratching their heads.

Adam Boult of The Telegraph published this solution:

Well - either 40 or 96 could be the right answer, depending on how you look at it.

For 2 + 5 to equal 12, and 3 + 6 to equal 21, there's clearly something missing. Here are the two most commonly suggested solutions.

• For the answer to be 40: 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 = 40

• For the answer to be 96: 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) = 96

 

So, the question is: Did you figure it before reading the solution?

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