Think you have what it takes to solve a Harvard-level riddle? This mind-bending puzzle has left 90% of people scratching their heads. Test your brainpower with this tricky question: Can you calculate the total number of people based on the riddle below? It might seem simple at first glance, but there’s a detail many tend to overlook. Take a crack at it, and see if you can outsmart this viral riddle
RIDDLE: Harvard University Interview
Would you pass a Harvard University interview? This riddle, supposedly used during their interview process, has stumped 90% of people! Are you sharp enough to figure it out? Take a look at the challenge: “7 men each have 7 wives. Each man and each wife has 7 children. How many people are there in total?”
Now, give it a shot and see if you can come up with the correct answer. Don’t scroll down until you’ve tried solving it yourself!
Common Mistakes People Make
When solving this type of problem, many people focus too much on one part of the riddle and forget to add all the elements together. One of the biggest mistakes is miscalculating the total number of children by not considering the total number of wives. Attention to detail is key in puzzles like this.
Breaking Down the Riddle Step by Step
Let’s go through the puzzle carefully:
- Start with the men: There are 7 men. Easy enough.
- Now calculate the wives: Each of the 7 men has 7 wives. So, we multiply:
- 7 men × 7 wives = 49 wives.
- Children per man: Each man, along with his 7 wives, has 7 children. So, the number of children each man has is:
- 7 wives × 7 children = 49 children per man.
- Total number of children: Since there are 7 men, we calculate the total number of children:
- 7 men × 49 children = 343 children.
Now, let’s tally up all the people:
- 7 men
- 49 wives
- 343 children
- Total number of people = 7 + 49 + 343 = 399 people.
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Share Your Thoughts
Were you able to solve the riddle on your first try? Let us know your answer in the comments below and see how many others got it right too! Don’t worry if you missed it—riddles are great for sharpening your brain, so keep trying. Also, challenge your friends with this puzzle and see how well they do!
Lastly, if you enjoy riddles like this, make sure to try out more on our site to keep your brain sharp and entertained.
