Lauren Balik, founder of Upright Analytics, sparked online outrage after claiming most job applicants — including all H-1B visa holders — failed to solve a basic math problem: 5(x) + 2 = 12.
Balik, who described herself as a “data wrangler,” posted on X that even experienced professionals like CMOs and data engineers struggled with the question, which has the simple answer x = 2.
Her comments quickly drew criticism on social media. Many users questioned the truth of her claim, suggesting that professionals might have overanalyzed the problem or thought it was a trick.
Several said it was highly unlikely that educated and skilled workers would fail such a basic equation.
The backlash intensified when users accused Balik of targeting H-1B visa holders unfairly. Critics labeled her remarks as biased and misleading, arguing that H-1B applicants face rigorous testing.
Balik provided no evidence to support her statement, sparking wider debate on immigration and discrimination.