Are you one of the chosen few? Find out with this test.
You better be ready! Ready? Okay, here we go:
How many times – within one day – do the two pointers of a clock cross each other?
I
I
V
Do you know? Come on, do the math!
I
I
V
No really: Go back and do the math!
I
I
V
Got it?
Yes! 22 is correct.
(Think it like this: The larger pointer (counting minutes) chases the smaller pointer (hours) through the day. It takes him each time 1 hour and a few more additional minutes to pass.)
Now: Why does this late-night-silliness matter?
According to the American economist Tyler Cowen, this is one of the questions to determine wether you are part of the «exceptionally solvent people», who will be the winners of the future: the top 3 percent. Yay, you’ve won! Or at least Cowen claims this in his book «Average Is Over», which I haven’t read, except this lousy article about it.
Did you count wrong, or, worse!, did you not even try? Then your job could be soon replaced by a smarter but less-costly you: a computer. And you will have to join the jobless others, debating in silly forums why they should be right.
But there is also the probability that this is all bullshit, and Mr. Cowen is just juggling numbers and arguments to sell his book. How big the probability is? Go do the math yourself!