TED-Ed: Can you solve the wizard standoff riddle? - Daniel Finkel

In a magical duel, you must choose a wand and strategy to defeat two opponents. The Noether 9000 is powerful but makes you a target. The Gaussian offers a middle ground, but the Bannekar, though weakest, provides the best odds by forcing opponents to target each other. By missing on purpose, you increase your chances of winning. The video explores these strategies and concludes that sometimes the best move is to appear weak.

What happens if a wizard casts a spell out of order during the duel?

• They are immediately disqualified.

• They get an extra turn.

• They are turned into a cat.

• They lose their wand.

Which wand has a 100% success rate in casting spells?

• Bannekar

• Gaussian

• Noether 9,000

• Leib-ton

Why might the protagonist choose the Gaussian wand?

• It has the highest success rate.

• It can turn opponents into cats.

• It is the rarest wand.

• It makes the user less of a target initially.

What is the main reason for choosing the Banneker wand?

• It can turn opponents into statues.

• It helps manipulate the actions of other wizards.

• It allows the user to attack first.

• It has the highest success rate.

What is the probability of all wizards turning into cats?

• 10%

• 3%

• 0%

• 50%