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Can you solve the penniless pilgrim riddle? - Dan Finkel

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After months of travel, you’ve arrived at Duonia, home to the famous temple that’s the destination of your pilgrimage. The walk from the welcome center to the temple isn't a long one ... but there’s a problem. Can you outsmart the city's imposed tax and make it to the temple without paying a fee? Dan Finkel shows how.

Solving this problem depends on correctly using the order of operations. Explain why this order matters--and how you can get different answers what you get after you add 2, subtract 2, multiply by 2, and divide by 2 depends on the order you apply the operations. Give specific examples.

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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
  • Director Outis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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