Some people will say:

34

Others will say:

45

Someone may even find another mathematical pattern and produce a completely different result.

That doesn’t necessarily mean everyone who gets a different answer is bad at mathematics.

It means the puzzle is underdetermined.

If the creator intended a specific rule, the expected answer depends on identifying that intended rule.

This is common in recreational mathematics.

A good puzzle should ideally provide enough information that the intended solution is reasonably clear. When it doesn’t, several interpretations can become defensible.

How to Approach Similar Puzzles

When you encounter a puzzle like this, don’t immediately start guessing.

Instead, work systematically.

Step 1: Test ordinary arithmetic

Check addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

If the displayed results don’t match, move on.

Step 2: Look for relationships between the numbers

Ask whether one number is being multiplied, squared, increased, or combined with another.

Step 3: Check every line

A proposed rule isn’t useful if it works for only one or two equations.