![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPRYivYHMOZOlV2G6UPfgxgu5RW-ml3YKx90EfClSHkNoQpuMMB5n3X9t5aIP9hQvOk68w0YKQQpOKhHQspVDI5QO8Z22m0ftifvcb10RGF6-1f-YQyo1wKueLvQ26PpJ2sWmGgq5hk8w/s1600/MathPuzzle.jpg)
First, let's start with the obvious errors, 2 is not equal to 5, 3 is not equal to 10, and 4 is not equal to 16. If those things were true, then we know that 5=2 by the reflexive property.
I don't believe that is the answer that is expected, and I don't like redefining a basic piece of notation.
So l we need to fix this problem a little. I going to assume that they are trying to represent some relation by using the equals sign. I'm going to rewrite this:
x | y |
2 | 5 |
3 | 10 |
4 | 17 |
5 | ?? |
y = 26
However, there are many functions that can fit just three points.
Here is a parabola,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdh-m8-SRSyx2YKCGkP82YlgGbX1Kb-VtUm_TiyOvcXHK4q2Nc4XpVs56aqw8lciw-bvusKVhbEho0b0iXojcmoUU7Ga5ztUdFD0HnnKtsITaIzmeseuYpPNAUmxe6qQ4Bd0zcTpUxw94/s1600/png-1.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTytapVXWjJwjP-drnhCTJZbbHM6zsvNZA3rkU4eqU1d4v_liMG9nne1LG23x3fRNCa7g9ZpQeV-Z3laK1eFlbO4nPZqYlQCC7LlS0bhuGgxDI2GTb8wBW-sudIiSIpgRt7KgLVBmVBeBu/s1600/fx.png)
And then there is this circle:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8pdgSte45DS9VmbPpeMV9fcmYegwjfv_KCXCzVNd2EUVH08i7SN-emyd4QC5L9Kbpkec2x46Iqmtw_HP7KzfbNqOpnCLcGPUAL_BRGQu_rr0OQiDwk5jj3jxAZ_uvd6BrwFLjHyJK5jq/s1600/png.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc7ibhR_4ILGE5Bjpj8FVjff3R0902GgVtevIO9U4olH6vDQYaVh9JIknD5k21_5XmCFxitG99ONF_tPWv738ZrTEYm8XLG-Nm7Qt4O_VJX81PsfykSZYOrO4KjpnOABtwc9kCtUuG-YV/s1600/gx.png)
So so far we have answers of 2, 23, 24, 26, and 59. Are there more? Probably. I bet some sort of periodic function could fit those three points. Comment if you think you know of another answer.