Skip to main content

The Infinite Hotel Paradox - Jeff Dekofsky

24,723,554 Views

32,969 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

The Infinite Hotel, a thought experiment created by German mathematician David Hilbert, is a hotel with an infinite number of rooms. Easy to comprehend, right? Wrong. What if it’s completely booked but one person wants to check in? What about 40? Or an infinitely full bus of people? Jeff Dekofsky solves these heady lodging issues using Hilbert’s paradox.

The set of real numbers is of a higher order of infinity (has more members) than the natural numbers.

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 Jeff Dekofsky
  • Director Nadav Arbel
  • Artist Yoni Boaz
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Math In Real Life