A clever way to estimate enormous numbers - Michael Mitchell
1,031,731 Views
16,516 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Have you ever tried to guess how many pieces of candy there are in a jar? Or tackled a mindbender like: “How many piano tuners are there in Chicago?” Physicist Enrico Fermi was very good at problems like these -- learn how he used the power of 10 to make amazingly fast estimations of big numbers.
The ability to make accurate estimations is a powerful tool, and working through Fermi questions is an excellent way to improve your skill. Here are a few to get you started: How many basketballs would fit inside the Empire State Building? How many drops of water are there in Lake Erie? How many gas stations are there in the United States?
Sign in to answer questionAbout 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
- Animator Mark Phillips
- Educator Michael Mitchell
- Narrator Michael Mitchell
