formula for IQ What is the formula for IQ
The correct answer and explanation is :
The formula for calculating IQ (Intelligence Quotient) traditionally used is:
$$
IQ = \frac{{\text{{Mental Age}}}}{{\text{{Chronological Age}}}} \times 100
$$
Explanation:
The concept of IQ was developed by French psychologist Alfred Binet in the early 20th century. Binet created the intelligence test to identify children who needed special education. The formula above is based on comparing a person’s mental age to their chronological age, and then multiplying by 100 to standardize the result.
- Mental Age (MA) refers to the age at which a person typically performs intellectually. For example, if a 10-year-old child demonstrates the intellectual abilities of a typical 12-year-old, their mental age is 12.
- Chronological Age (CA) is simply the actual age of the person, typically measured in years.
The formula was designed so that the average IQ of a population would be 100, which is considered “average intelligence.” If someone’s IQ score is above 100, their mental age is higher than what is typical for their chronological age, indicating higher-than-average intelligence. Conversely, an IQ below 100 suggests a lower-than-average mental age relative to their chronological age.
Over time, the concept of IQ has evolved. In modern testing, such as with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or the Stanford-Binet test, the formula has been adapted. These tests no longer strictly rely on the ratio of mental age to chronological age. Instead, they compare a person’s performance to the average performance of others in the same age group. The scores are then distributed in a bell curve, with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, so most people score between 85 and 115.
Thus, while the original formula was based on mental and chronological age, modern IQ tests now involve more complex statistical methods to determine scores.