Math Puzzle Is Going Viral – Can You Solve It?

The answer is 98.

The pattern is found by multiplying the two numbers together, and then adding the first number minus 2 to that product.

Here is the pattern applied to each row:

• 3 + 2 = 7: (3 × 2) + (3 – 2) = 6 + 1 = 7

• 5 + 4 = 23: (5 × 4) + (5 – 2) = 20 + 3 = 23

• 7 + 6 = 47: (7 × 6) + (7 – 2) = 42 + 5 = 47

• 9 + 8 = 79: (9 × 8) + (9 – 2) = 72 + 7 = 79

Following this exact rule for the final equation:

• 10 + 9 = ?: (10 × 9) + (10 – 2) = 90 + 8 = 98

(Note: Another valid way to view this pattern is simply squaring the first number and subtracting 2: 10 x 10 = 100 ➔ 100 – 2 = 98).