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Should you trust unanimous decisions? - Derek Abbott

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TEDEd Animation

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Imagine a police lineup where ten witnesses are asked to identify a bank robber they glimpsed fleeing the scene. If six of them pick the same person, there’s a good chance that’s the culprit. And if all ten do, you might think the case is rock solid. But sometimes, the closer you start to get to total agreement, the less reliable the result becomes. Derek Abbott explains the paradox of unanimity.

You toss a coin 20 times and every time it turns up heads. It could be your lucky day, but then maybe not. Brainstorm as many possible crazy scenarios that could have led to 20 heads in a row. Which is the least likely scenario?

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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 Derek Abbott
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Director Brett Underhill
  • Animator Brett Underhill
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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