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Can you solve the temple riddle? - Dennis E. Shasha

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7,624 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Your expedition finally stands at the heart of the ancient temple. But as you study the inscriptions in the darkness, two wisps of green smoke burst forth. The walls begin to shake. The giant sandglass begins flowing with less than an hour before it empties, and a rumbling tells you that you don’t want to be around when that happens. Can you use math to escape the temple? Dennis E. Shasha shows how.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss
If you had divided up the expeditioners into groups of four and four, you had explored one path, and one group of four went down a second path, one group down a third path, and you had left one group unexplored, in which situations would you not know which path to escape from?

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 Dennis E. Shasha
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Director Outis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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