A woman has 7 children. Half of them are boys. How is that possible?

Why this works

At first glance, this riddle seems to tease you with a contradiction, luring you into a trap of assumptions about gender ratios. The phrase "half of them are boys" cleverly plays with our expectations; we instinctively think of half as a fraction of the total, leading us to imagine a mix of boys and girls. But here’s the twist: if all 7 children are boys, then indeed, half of them—meaning three and a half boys—doesn't logically apply, but the riddle invites you to consider that "half" can simply refer to the total number of boys present rather than a literal division of genders. This riddle shines a light on language and how our interpretations can lead us astray. It highlights our tendencies to overthink simple statements, revealing the irony in our initial confusion. The cleverness lies in how it redirects our thinking from a straightforward mathematical interpretation to a playful challenge of definitions. The "aha moment" comes when we realize that the playful wording allows for a reinterpretation that’s not just logical, but also delightfully unexpected. As a fun side note, riddles like this have been used across cultures for centuries to provoke thought and laughter. They remind us of the joy in language and the playful nature of logic, serving as a mental exercise that sharpens our reasoning while entertaining us. So next time you hear a riddle, remember to look at it from all angles—there might just be a surprise waiting for you!