Skip to main content

Can you solve the penniless pilgrim riddle? - Dan Finkel

6,382,413 Views

6,003 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

After months of travel, you’ve arrived at Duonia, home to the famous temple that’s the destination of your pilgrimage. The walk from the welcome center to the temple isn't a long one ... but there’s a problem. Can you outsmart the city's imposed tax and make it to the temple without paying a fee? Dan Finkel shows how.

Solving this problem depends on correctly using the order of operations. Explain why this order matters--and how you can get different answers what you get after you add 2, subtract 2, multiply by 2, and divide by 2 depends on the order you apply the operations. Give specific examples.

Sign in to answer question

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 Daniel Finkel
  • Director Outis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

More from Math In Real Life