Up until now… no one has discovered a different solution.

One common method interprets the pattern as “multiply and add”: A × B + A. Using this formula, the sequence works perfectly: 1 + 4 = 5, 2 + 5 = 12, 3 + 6 = 21, and 5 + 8 = 45. Another approach adds the previous result to the next sum, producing 34 as the final answer. Others experiment with cumulative multiplication or even alternate number systems like binary, showing that a single problem can lead to multiple plausible solutionsThe puzzle’s appeal lies not just in the answer but in the reasoning process. It encourages analytical thinking, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving, skills that extend far beyond mathematics.