This simple puzzle is exposing how bad everyone is at maths

Maths isn't everyone's strong suit, but we'd all like to think we can literally count a bunch of shapes, right?

It's not exactly trigonometry, but this maths problem has been bewildering people online after it was tweeted by journalist Jitesh Pillai.

Say? pic.twitter.com/lrhXrWw5EP

— J (@jiteshpillaai) April 9, 2018

It starts off easy: there's one big triangle, right? And then three definite triangles at the top. With it so far.

But then you notice that you can also make bigger triangles. And smaller triangles too. Suddenly all you see is triangles downwards, upwards, and sideways, and you no longer know what a triangle actually is, who you are or, more importantly, why humans are still allowed the internet.

Here's proof this puzzle messes with your brain: Even the consistently calm and collected world of Twitter is in meltdown.

Everyone got a different answer and no one showed their working. For example, this person somehow saw just 1 triangle.

Just 1 https://t.co/UiZtRFBl4J

— Alex Terranova 💯 (@Alexterra03) April 9, 2018

While this person, oddly, saw 2.

Why do I only see 2? 😂 https://t.co/UABlZ8NZrX

— Kayla Reed 🦋 (@itskayla_reed) April 9, 2018

Meanwhile, this person saw 3.

Am I the only one that sees 3 triangles or ... https://t.co/mu7pVJRPRe — nisaa reed (@nisaareed) April 10, 2018

Another saw 4.

ITS 4 YALL ARE DUMB DUMB STUPUD HEADS https://t.co/VeDRpDKfzg — WOODCHIP BUT YOU CAN CALL ME CHIP FOR SHORT (@dadtrash) April 10, 2018

This user spotted 5.

The answer is 5 pic.twitter.com/7fve2NlC5D

— Wajid Kausar (@WajidKausar4) April 10, 2018

And this person, 6.

6 triangles https://t.co/cXhFNc1RVW

— Lynne Camp (@LynneCamp4) April 10, 2018

7. ...8. And 9.

9? 🤔... math is dabba! 🤪😂 https://t.co/b1Cjq527jH

— Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) April 9, 2018

Can you guess what's coming next? 10.

I count 10 lol https://t.co/NbZ1Fq3Nix

— Nicholas Bowen (@The_NJB_) April 10, 2018

The answer is 11, clearly.

11 don’t @ me https://t.co/KN6tyg7ckZ

— Zaccai🇩🇴 (@_darkskinpapi) April 9, 2018

While this person think it's 12.

I think it's 12...!!! 🤔🤔🤔
What do you think..?? 🙄 https://t.co/weDa0hdS5W

— Being Gaurav (@being_ggaurav) April 10, 2018

Nope, it's obviously 13.

It's actually 14, depending when you ask. i saw this tweet when i was taking a shower and it infuriates me BC MY NUMBER CHANGES EVERYTIME I COUNT (i see 14 rn ?) https://t.co/WZ0JhBvrc3 — *alm voice* can't we all be oomfs (@seaboundshrine) April 10, 2018

15. No questions asked.

16? um, 16 ? what ? https://t.co/etWvdhiRXP — 🌹lelli🌹 (@illelligal) April 10, 2018

17 and now everything hurts. I could only get 17 before I got a headache https://t.co/qwd1efih4p — ندوي (@na_alhashmii) April 10, 2018

No wait, it's 18.

how are yall not getting 18 https://t.co/4DmkZVR00n

— bean skin (@bunnycaps) April 9, 2018

You get 19 if you include "triangles" too, whatever that means.

We've reached the 20s. '

Update: 21. https://t.co/j075wzu135 — Ya Gurl Mady ✨💕🥑🍑👩🏻💅🏼 (@mady134) April 10, 2018

People are just fantasising up triangles at this point.

I can see 28 https://t.co/4yQx0vwZIa

— Gildalle (@Gildalle) April 10, 2018

It turns out the answer is actually 18.

Probably. If anything is even real anymore.

18 pic.twitter.com/iNwwyZlA9Z — Neeraj✍️ (@Iam_Ineffable) April 9, 2018

(Source: The Independent)