Skip to main content

TED-Ed

Can you find the next number in this sequence? - Alex Gendler

567,986 Views

5,085 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221. These are the first five elements of a number sequence. Can you figure out what comes next? Alex Gendler reveals the answer and explains how beyond just being a neat puzzle, this type of sequence has practical applications as well.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Read Conway’s original paper here, or take a closer look at Conway’s Constant and the visual graph of its roots. Or delve deeper into examining the elements and proofs regarding the limits of the sequence.


About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator
Alex Gendler
Director
Outis
Associate Producer
Jessica Ruby
Content Producer
Gerta Xhelo
Editorial Producer
Alex Rosenthal
Narrator
Addison Anderson

More from Math In Real Life