A Lesson on How to Solve the Airplane Riddle, A Complicated Problem About Fuel and Time

A TED-Ed lesson by Judd A. Schorr explains how to solve the airplane riddle, a complicated problem about fuel and time. Three planes with enough fuel to only make it halfway around the world must all use the same airport to help one plane make the complete journey. How can they do this without crashing?

Professor Fukan?, the famous scientist, has embarked on a new challenge – piloting around the world in a plane of his own design. There’s just one problem: there’s not enough fuel to complete the journey. Luckily, there are two other planes to help. Can you help the professor fly for the whole trip and achieve his dream, without anyone running out of fuel and crashing? Judd A. Schorr shows how.