Just for fun: math brain teaser

[whig4life]

TL;DR Summary

Just for fun, let me know if I am

My answer looks like this (translating from my pen+paper notepad):
a+b = a+a*b

1+1*4=5

2+2*5=12

3+3*6=21

8+8*11=96

my friend got 40, which I can also see. I am not sure who is correct. Please let me know and let’s put our heads together and have fun.

 

[PeroK]

I get $201$

 

[fresh_42]

I had 96, too, but there is no unique solution. In fact, there are infinitely many possibilities to construct a building rule.

 

[whig4life]

I had 96, too, but there is no unique solution. In fact, there are infinitely many possibilities to construct a building rule.

Hello my friend, and thanks for the reply. How did you arrive at 96, was it similar to my method?

 

[fresh_42]

Hello my friend, and thanks for the reply. How did you arrive at 96, was it similar to my method?

It was exactly your approach. Appeared to be the easiest way.

 

[Mark44]

Summary:: Just for fun, let me know if I am

My answer looks like this (translating from my pen+paper notepad):
a+b = a+a*b

That seems the most obvious solution, and one that matches the first three examples.

 

[mfb]

Three other rules that match, using the common b-a=3 in all examples:
$a \oplus b = ab+b-3$
$a \oplus b = a^2+4a$
$a \oplus b = b^2-2b-3$

As the open problem has b-a=3, too, all these rules lead to 96.

 

[pbuk]

$$\begin{align}
1 + 4 &= 5_{10} = 5_6 \\
2 + 5 &= 7_{10} = 12_5 \\
3 + 6 &= 9_{10} = 21_4 \\
8 + 11 &= 19_{10} = 201_3
\end{align}$$
What answer do you want?

 

[axiom]

40
if
1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 12 [12=5+2+5]
3 + 6 = 21 [21=12+3+6]
8 + 11 = 40 [40=21+8+11]