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MathXplosion, Ep 46: Can you solve the Three Cups Problem?

Video MathXplosion, Ep 46: Can you solve the Three Cups Problem?

TLF ID M024993

Find three cups, place them in a line and turn one cup facing down. Can you get all three cups facing down after making exactly three moves? The one rule is: for every move, two cups must be flipped simultaneously. Since the goal is to get all three cups facing down (an odd number) and you start with one cup facing down (also an odd number), you must turn down an even number of cups (two), because an odd plus an even is an odd.

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Educational details

Year level

3; 4

Topics Problem solving Algorithms Computational thinking
Learning area
  • Technologies
  • Digital Technologies

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Organization: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Description: Creator
  • URL: http://www.abc.net.au
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Publisher
  • Name: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Organization: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: http://www.abc.net.au
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
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  • Generic
Learning Resource Type
  • Video
Rights
  • Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2012 (except where otherwise indicated).