Here is a fact.
Some people are smart. Some people are not.
But here is another thing I’ve noticed. Many people these days seem to look down on intelligent people. They equate intelligence with snobbery and elitism.
In the United States, the average IQ is approximately 98. This is with a standard deviation of 15. That means about 68% of the population scores between 85 and 115.
So, what does that really mean? Who is sitting next to you?
Here are your chances. The IQ scores were followed by how many people scored that way.
130–145 = 6.6 million geniuses
115–130 = 46.6 million gifted Americans
100–115 = 113 million above-average folks
85–100 = 113 million below-average folks
70–85 = 46.6 million challenged fellows
55–70 = 6.6 million slightly more challenged people
Here’s another thing. IQ scores vary across states, influenced by factors such as education quality, socioeconomic status, and access to resources. According to a 2022 report, New Hampshire has the highest average IQ at 103.2, while New Mexico has the lowest at 95.0.
But here is another thing to consider. While IQ tests measure certain cognitive abilities, they do not encompass all aspects of intelligence. Factors like creativity, emotional intelligence, and practical skills are also crucial components of a person’s overall capabilities.
All that being said, I ran across an interesting article the other day. It asked a pointed question:
Can You Pass the World’s Shortest IQ Test?
It was developed in 2005 by Princeton psychologist Shane Frederick. The quiz assesses your ability to process information slowly and rationally rather than jumping to quick conclusions.
The questions might not be as easy as they first seem (similar to these Mensa IQ test questions). A 2005 study found that students attending some of the nation’s most prestigious universities (including Harvard and Yale) failed to get all three of these questions correct; only 17% received a perfect score.
Here are the three questions:
1. A bat and a ball cost $1.1 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?
3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?
Check out the answers below, and best of luck.
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Answers:
1. Five cents. If you guessed 10 cents, you’re not alone. However, if that were the case, the bat and ball would cost $1.20, not $1.10. On the other hand, a 5-cent ball and a bat priced at $1.05 (which is $1 more than 5 cents) would total $1.10.
2. Fi e minutes. Although you might have answered 100 minutes, the actual time is less than that. Since the question reveals that it would take 5 minutes for 1 widget machine to make 1 widget, you can determine that it would also take 5 minutes for 100 widget machines to make 100 widgets.
3. Forty- even days. At first, your gut might tell you it would take 24 days. But remember: Since the area of the lake covered in lily pads doubles every day, a patch that covers half the lake would fully cover it in just one additional day. Subtract one day from 48 days, and what do you get? 47 days. Now, that’s a tricky math puzzle.
Anyway. I believe intelligence is a good thing. I believe we are here to learn. And learning builds our knowledge.
We were meant to grow.
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“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” — Albert Einstein
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“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” — Aristotle
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“Intelligence is not only the ability to reason, but the ability to apply reasoning to solve problems.” — Carl Sagan
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Blaise Pascal: “The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of.”
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