Finding pattern

Question

Just a puzzle. \begin{matrix} 2 & 9 & ? \\ 11 & 33 & 66 \\ 8 & 3 & 27 \\ \end{matrix} The options are $35$, $40$, $45$, $55$.
$45$ is false.
I thought the answer was $15$ since they are of the form $3a + b = c$, but there isn't a $15$.
EDIT: It's not a problem from a math test so I think that the pattern (if there is one at all!) should be an "easy" one.
EDIT again: My friend said he was not sure if 45 is wrong. Maybe he is wrong on another problem. I think 45 is the right answer!

Answer 1

The sum of all digits of each row is always 20.

Second row: $1+1+3+3+6+6=20$

Third row: $8+3+2+7=20$

Then:

First row: $2 + 9 +a +b = 11+a+b = 20 \Rightarrow a+b = 9$

where $10a + b$ is the number to be placed in the position $(1,3)$.

This is only possible if the number to be placed is $45$; in fact $a=4, b=5$ and $a+b=9$.

Answer 2

Perhaps the pattern is that every number in the box can be formed by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing two numbers from columns other than the column that number resides in. Then the answer would be 35.