An IQ test allegedly used during interviews for Harvard University has left 90% of people who take it speechless.
The image shows the university letter with a math problem written in red and black ink.
The question is: “7 men have 7 women. Every man and every woman have 7 children. What is the total number of people?’
According to FOXreport.gr, this particular IQ test first appeared online in 2021, but has resurfaced online to challenge another group of players, who have shared different answers.
Different interpretations of the riddle
Unlike most riddles, there isn’t just one right answer. Responses range from 63 to 448 people.
“This is all a play on words,” one user commented on the post. “There are several answers and none of them are wrong, unless you don’t get the math right.”
It all depends on how each person interprets the question.
The correct answers to the IQ test
1st correct answer
If we assume from the question that there are 7 couples who have 7 children then the correct answer is 63 (7 men, 7 women and 49 children, so 7 + 7 + 49 = 63)
2nd correct answer
If we assume from the question that there are 7 men and 7 women and their children are different, i.e. each man has 7 children and each woman another 7 then the correct answer is 112. (7 men, 7 women, 49 children of the men and 49 women’s children, so 7 + 7 + 49 + 49 = 112)
3rd correct answer
If we assume from the question that there are 7 men and each of them has 7 wives, and with each of them he has 7 children then the correct answer is 399. (7 men, 49 women, 343 children, so 7 + 49 + 343 = 399)
4th correct answer
If we assume from the question that there are 7 men and each of them has 7 wives, and their children are different, then the correct answer is 448 (7 men, 49 women, 49 children of men, 343 children of women, i.e. 7 + 49 + 343= 399)
The importance of mathematical puzzles
Math puzzles are important because they encourage people to analyze information and look at the answer from different angles. They reveal how they break down problems into smaller, manageable steps and whether they use creative thinking.
