Confusing riddle that asks you to count clocks and tables catches thousands of people out

Riddles can be a fun way to test your brain power, so why not put yourself to the test and see if you can crack this one?

In the image below, you are asked to work out what the objects are worth numerically by following a sequence, based on a formula listed for the objects shown, but it's seriously mind-boggling.

The random objects include cups, tables and clocks, and in the riddle, there are three clocks which equate to six, a clock and two tables which add up to 10 and then two sets of cups and a table which equate to 16. You're then asked what the numerical answer is to the cups plus the table, multiplied by the clock. We warned you, it's a tricky one! Get your pen and paper at the ready and see if you can work it out.

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If you're confused, you're not the only one as many people in the comments were debating what the answer was. The riddle, originally posted on X, formally known as Twitter and one person responded with confidence, but they were bluntly told that they were wrong when someone else posted a seriously long response explaining why the actual answer was different to what they thought.

Of course, we shouldn't have assumed that a riddle would be that straightforward and easy - many people thought that the answer was 6 + 4 x 2 - but if you look at the question again, you'll realise that the variables are a little bit different than in the previous picture.

Daily Quiz and Riddles posted the explanation to debunk all the other confused users, writing: "Answer: 19. Explanation: Clock + Clock + Clock = 6; This means Clock = 2 Clock + Table + Table = 10; This means 2 + (2*Table) = 10. Table = 8/2; Table = 4. Table + 6Cups + 6Cups = 16; This means 4 + 12Cups = 16; 1Cup = 1. 4Cups + Table*Clock =? = 4+ 4*2 = 4+8 = 12 But is the answer truly 12? No. This is where you need to watch more clearly. The last Table has 3 legs, and the clock is on 5. That means the last Table = 3 (not 4); and the clock = 5 (not 2) Answer is 4 + 3*5 = 19."

Did you spot the fact that the table had only three legs and the clock was at 5pm? No? This riddle is far sneakier than you first expect, and it's caught many brainy players out.

Responding to a confused commenter, they said: "In actual mathematics, they are indeed different variables, so there wouldn't be answers. But in the context of riddles/brain teasers, it's just testing the 'number of cups', 'hand of the clock' and the 'legs of the table'." "The explanation explains it all", someone joked.

Did you manage to work it out? Let us know in the comments.

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