Why 13? The internet is stumped by fascinating mathematical pattern on the face of every clock

A mathematical problem using all twelve numbers on a clock has stunned thousands of internet users.

The cryptic video was uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, on December 18 by @gunsnrosesgirl3.

The thirteen-second video was viewed more than 47 million times and generated more than 7,000 comments from stunned users. A simple caption: 'Why 13?'

The puzzlers were stunned when each opposite number on the clock added up to '13'.

Users were asked to figure out why the numbers represented exactly the same figure.

Puzzlers were sent through the realms of space, time and history as it was shown that each opposite number on the clock added up to '13'

The footage shows an unknown person scribbling clockwise circles around two sets of numbers.

The demonstrator starts with '12' at the top of the clock, circles around it and adds the '1' before circling '11' and '2' separately in a back and forth motion.

As each opposite number is added, it becomes clear that each set results in '13' – but users are put off by the 'coincidence'.

One astounded

A third stunned person replied: 'I'm guessing thirteen because there are thirteen zodiac signs if you include the male sign.'

However, some concluded that any result of '13' comes from simple addition and subtraction, with the 'clockwise' order serving as a distraction.

One person wrote: 'Because the clock ends at 12 o'clock. If he finished at 10 o'clock, the result would be 11.'

Another replied: 'This is simple addition and subtraction, the dial is a distraction. You could make the number infinite with an ultimately even number and you would get a similar result.'

Many

Emmy, known as @brixwe on – generating over 100 different guesses from sharp critical thinkers

A final puzzler came to his own conclusion, writing: 'Very easy here. We start with 12 + 1 and go down with circles, which implies that the clock goes +1 right and -1 left, which means that in the end it will always be the same result… 13.'

Another math puzzle shared to X earlier this month left internet users scratching their heads… with a series of answers offered as solutions.

The mind-boggling comparison was uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, by US user Emmy on December 7 to her 170K followers.

Emmy, known as @brixwe on the social app, shared the image alongside the caption: “What did you get?” – generating over 100 different guesses from sharp critical thinkers.

The puzzle consists of images of certain objects: a table, an alarm clock that is set exactly on time and rolls of blue paper.

Three sums are pre-solved, which provides a clue for analytical minds to work out the answer to the final equation – but it seems more difficult than it seems.