Can you solve the alien probe riddle? - Dan Finkel
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2,064 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Your team has developed a probe to study an alien monolith. It needs protective coatings — in red, purple and green — to cope with the environments it passes through. Can you figure out how to apply the colors so the probe survives the trip? Dan Finkel shows how.
WatchThink 5 Multiple Choice &
3 Open Answer Questions Dig Deeper Learn More Discuss 0 Guided Discussions &
3 Open Discussions
3 Open Answer Questions Dig Deeper Learn More Discuss 0 Guided Discussions &
3 Open Discussions
Additional Resources for you to Explore
A larger 4 by 4 by 4 probe were assembled from 64 smaller cubes. If you needed to paint this in 4 different colors instead of 3, could it be done?
To solve this, you’ll want to think about the solution for the 3-color cube. Paint the entire thing red, then look at how many cubes have 0, 1, 2, or 3 faces painted. Then think of how you could use symmetry to paint the other three colors in as well. Note: the 4-color version of this problem CAN be solved!
Looking for more math games? Check out the educator’s website.
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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 Daniel Finkel
- Animator Anton Trofimov
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
