# Question from "IQ Test" - what does logic have to do with it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 1, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256 "2005-04-01T16:35:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256/21 "2005-04-05T12:57:23Z")

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> [@galt](#):
>
> you seem to be ignoring the fact that the “solid vertical line” is light gray (the color of the square’s interior, not its border). That’s what is throwing me off. In that case, shouldn’t the dotted line be light gray as well?

Ah, I see. I didn’t see any correlation with colors, so I abandoned color altogether and looked at pattern, which pointed to a clear answer.

They may have intentionally added the “color controversy” in an effort to increase difficulty.

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**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256/22 "2005-04-05T14:27:45Z")

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The only one I got wrong was #28. Having never heard that saying before, I really don’t think there was any way to figure it out. In my opinion, A, B, and C all make sense in the context. The shape ones I got easily, I guess I’m just good at figuring out patterns, so long as words and letters aren’t involved. I can’t do word scrambles for the life of me.

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**Author:** ![Limbo\_Donni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Limbo\_Donni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limbo_Donni)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256/23 "2005-04-05T20:46:49Z")

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You’re right about #28. From a homily standpoint I guessed “right”, since few holilies promote faith in luck, but from a logic standpoint (the nominal test ethos) they are equally correct.

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**Author:** ![rpinrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@rpinrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rpinrd)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-from-iq-test-what-does-logic-have-to-do-with-it/297256/24 "2005-04-05T22:09:18Z")

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> [@Roches](#):
>
> I like how #26 requires you to use the Pythagorean Theorem. At least they’re easy numbers to square and add together, and it just happens that the sum of the squares is a square number. If the cars had driven 7 miles after turning, the question would be much harder.

The question is even easier if you realize that they are making a multiple of a 3-4-5 right triangle. You don’t even have to square anything there.

There are other combinations like the 3-4-5, but I can’t remember what they are.

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