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The last banana: A thought experiment in probability - Leonardo Barichello

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23,268 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Imagine a game played with two players and two dice: if the biggest number rolled is one, two, three, or four, player 1 wins. If the biggest number rolled is five or six, player 2 wins. Who has the best probability of winning the game? Leonardo Barichello explains how probability holds the answer to this seemingly counterintuitive puzzle.

Based on the rules stated in the "Battle for the Banana", what percentage chance does contestant two have of winning?

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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 Leo Barichello
  • Director Richard O'Connor
  • Animator Taisiya Zaretskaya, Marisha Falkovich
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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