This Math Textbook Cover Will Make Your Head Explode

By Tara Block

Updated on 6/29/2016 at 9:45 AM

It isn't just math problems confusing the internet — now it's actual math textbooks. This College Prep Algebra textbook, specifically, is about to send you into a spiraling dark hole of confusion. It all began with this tweet on Friday:

how the fuck are they already on the textbook if theyre posing for it pic.twitter.com/fkpP9HTWnk

— ️ (@riarklerise) May 19, 2016

What is this sorcery?

@riarklerise pic.twitter.com/VPYRqplQ7E

— Mმƙმνεlἶ ჯ Kεყყყყყʂ (@_KeyysxMakaveli) May 20, 2016

Obviously, it's time travel.

@riarklerise @andrewpfister I don't think they cover the time travelers paradox until Algebra II

— Corey Garnett (@CoreyGarnett) May 20, 2016

OR Photoshop. (But probably time travel.)

@riarklerise @BobbyBigWheel Time travel! No, wait. Photoshop.

— David (@RedRocks_76) May 20, 2016

OK fine, it's actually Photoshop. This cover inception was first uncovered on Reddit two years ago, and an internet sleuth found the original stock photo used for the cover. And if you REALLY want to go down the rabbit hole, here's one of the models posing with the book cover of himself on the book cover:

Mystery solved. Or is it . . .

MGM