The mathematical sleight of hand here is absolutely diabolical! This meme starts with the infamous order of operations debate (6÷2(1+2)) that breaks the internet every few years, then performs a series of increasingly absurd mathematical "steps" that somehow conclude x equals both 1 and 9 simultaneously.
The trick? After correctly calculating x = 9, they sneakily introduce "x - 5 = 4" out of nowhere, then manipulate equations until reaching the factored form (x-1)(x-9)=0, which gives solutions x=1 and x=9. It's like watching a magician pull a rabbit from a hat, except the rabbit is mathematical nonsense and the hat is your confused brain.
Next time someone tries to convince you 2+2=5, just show them this proof. They'll either laugh or have an existential crisis!