Have you ever heard of a riddle that goes like this: “7 men have 7 wives. Each man and each wife have 7 children. What’s the total number of people?”
At first glance, this may seem like a simple math problem, but upon closer inspection, it can be quite perplexing. In this article, we will break down the riddle and provide a step-by-step explanation of how to solve it.
Understanding the Riddle
The riddle states that there are seven men, each of whom has a wife. Additionally, each man and wife have seven children. To determine the total number of people in this scenario, we need to consider each family as a separate unit and then add them together.
Breaking Down the Math
Let’s start by looking at one family unit. We know that each family consists of one man, one wife, and seven children. Therefore, the total number of people in one family is nine (1 man + 1 wife + 7 children = 9 people).
If we apply this formula to all seven families, we can determine the total number of people. Multiplying 7 by 9 gives us a total of 63 people (7 families x 9 people per family = 63 people). Therefore, the answer to the riddle is 63.
Explaining the Solution
The key to solving this riddle is understanding that each family unit consists of nine people: one man, one wife, and seven children. Once we know this, we can multiply nine by the number of families (seven in this case) to determine the total number of people.
It’s important to note that the riddle does not specify if there are any grandparents or extended family members involved. If there were, the answer to the riddle would be higher. However, based on the information given in the riddle, we can only assume that each family unit consists of one man, one wife, and seven children.
Conclusion
The riddle of seven men, seven wives, and seven children per family may seem challenging at first, but it can be easily solved by breaking down the math.
By considering each family unit separately and then adding them together, we can determine that the total number of people in this scenario is 63.
If you like solving riddles like these, then please have a look at Smith Has 4 Daughters and Eggs Puzzle to have an amazing time.