90% failed this confusing riddle: Can you answer how many people went to the picnic?

A viral riddle is making rounds on social media platforms. The question may sound trivial, but it has divided the internet, and there are claims that 90% of the people were eliminated. So, let’s dive in and see if you can find the correct answer to this question:


A couple with 5 sons went for a picnic. Each son has 7 sisters, and each sister has 3 babies. In total, how many people went to the picnic?


This puzzle challenges you to calculate the total number of people in the given scenario. What makes this question tricky isn’t the math but the wording. And that’s what makes it difficult to interpret and leads to different answers.


As the post went viral, many social media users rushed to the comment section with their answers. Some started using all the mathematical rules, while some others simply gave up.



One user confidently calculated the whole scenario and came up with the answer of 61. One jokingly wrote ‘imagine trying to relax at a picnic with 21 babies”, and claimed the answer is 35. Some said it was not mentioned anywhere that anyone except the couple went to the picnic, so the answer would be 2. One user claimed the question has insufficient information to give a definite answer.


This question challenges not just an individual’s math skills, but also critical thinking and reading comprehension. The interpretation can lead to an infinite number of answers. So what’s your answer for this so-called ‘MIT University’ question. Do share your take in the comments.


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