Alright, let’s clear up one of the internet’s most delightfully confusing math problems: What exactly is the “9 plus 10” meme?
It all started way back in 2013, with a short video on the now-defunct app Vine. In this clip, a man asks a young boy, “What’s 9 plus 10?” and the boy confidently, and hilariously, responds, “21!”
This unexpected, incorrect, yet incredibly confident answer immediately struck a chord with internet users. It was just so absurd and unexpected, making it instantly shareable and ripe for comedic gold.
People found it funny because it played on the idea of a simple math problem having a completely wrong, yet delivered with such conviction, answer. It became a popular way to express a moment of extreme confidence despite being completely off-base.
So, in essence, the “9 plus 10” meme isn’t about math at all; it’s a classic piece of internet humor, a funny snapshot of a kid’s wrong answer that became an enduring symbol of internet absurdity and unexpected confidence.