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Can you solve the computer virus riddle? - James Tanton

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1,363 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Your antivirus squad is up against a code that’s hijacked your mainframe. What you’ve learned from other infected systems, right before they went dark, is that it likes to toy with antivirus agents in a very peculiar way— and you’re the agent that’s been selected to go up against the malware. Can you figure out which disk that runs your mainframe has been corrupted? James Tanton shows how.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss
Suppose instead when you are brought into the mainframe and see all discs switched on. You are told that disc 10 is corrupted. Which disc do you switch to communicate this corrupted disc number to the squad?

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 James Tanton
  • Director Igor Coric, Artrake Studio
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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