Can you outsmart Fate and break her ancient curse? - Dan Finkel

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Hundreds of years ago, your ancestor stole a magical tarot deck from Fate herself- and it came with a terrible cost. Once every 23 years, one member of your family must face Fate in a duel with rules only known to your opponent. And every time, generation after generation, the outcome is the same: Fate claims their soul. Today, it’s your turn. Can you defeat Fate? Dan Finkel shows how.
Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Igor Coric, Artrake Studio.
This video made possible in collaboration with Brilliant
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[@nerdlingeeksly5192]

I break the curse, because fate might change the game or the rules after your family beats her enough times.

[@tntsummers926]

Exactly!

[@raileite5994]

Or give you a different curse just for the gags 😂

[@Albertandearthie]

I choose that because ya don't lose anything

[@TheGregamonster]

Also wealth and true love can be achieved through your own merit. Breaking the curse can not be.

[@feathero3]

Yeah, don't want to, TEMT FATE!

[@mackerelmafia2898]

To be honest, breaking the curse is the worst of the three best outcomes. Now that you and your family know the rules of the game, your descendants can go into the doorway knowing the rules, and how to win. So every 23 years, you get obscene riches or the love of your life at no cost at all.

[@tntsummers926]

So will fate as well, she'll learn, I seriously doubt she'll keep the rules the same, much less her strategy, it's pretty much a death game, no matter what, our child might face death if they're unlucky, and I don't know about you, but I'd rather not doom my descendents for greed/romance.

[@just-apt]

Fate will find out eventually and change the game 😂

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

Actually Fate is letting you win because its fate itself

[@mackerelmafia2898]

ok yeah that's fair, didn't think of that

[@truthboom]

@@tntsummers926 After breaking the curse, what if fate curse you and the family again seeing how petty Fate was

[@Jjaeger_H]

Gotta say, I love that taking all rewards at the same time is impossible. Not only does it add spice to the riddle, but also just goes really well with the idea of the riddle, of beating fate and making your own choices

[@npc4416]

if you move according to fate (taking the 16) you are guaranteed to lose

[@aguyontheinternet8436]

@@npc4416 It was just a suggestion by her anyways

[@semperubisububi]

I usually avoid comments on these videos until I solve it myself, but I caught a glimpse of yours, only read it as "taking all rewards at the same time is POSSIBLE". Spent hours looking for a non-existent solution :D

[@jesusmijares8614]

Tecnically, it is possible to take the 2, then 6 and 10, making him take 1, 3 and 5, but also every except one of the following: 23, 19, 17, 15 because 1, 2, 5 and 10 would be out 13, 11, 9 off 3 and 6 out, and 7, leaving 4, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21 and 22. i CANT find a solution by this but this is my attempt: I take 2, 6 and 10 and he takes 1, 3 and 5 Me= 18 Fate=9 I take 20 and 16, he takes 4 by the 20 and 8 by the 16 Me=54 Fate=21 I take 18, 21 and 22 and he takes 7, 9 and 11 Me=115 Fate=48 I take 23 AND HE TAKES THE REST, being 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 Me=138 Fate=138

[@jesusmijares8614]

Also, maybe you can take 2 but i dont know.

[@mmead7904]

I noticed the detail of fate pushing the tower card every time at the start of both games. In tarot the tower often is interpreted as catastrophe or destruction. Fate is using the tower to help destroy her opponent.

[@zacharynguyen7286]

Hope you’re doing good

[@Joco999]

The Tower seems like something that would spawn 6 troll bombs in the room

[@kylerivera3470]

@@Joco999 Or fill the room with rocks.

[@Joco999]

@@kylerivera3470 depends if its brown or red

[@R.F.9847]

Often interpreted as catastrophe or destruction, yes, and it certainly can mean that, but its most neutral meaning is "unexpected change". This can end up being bad or good, depending. I think of The Tower as "major shake-up". Sometimes it throws things into terrible chaos, but sometimes it's just what you need.

[@omega-xk4gj]

If My Fate ever rests upon me having to do Math of all things, then I'll just roll over and accept it

[@rebecalescano8209]

YES!!! The moment Fate said "factors" I would've taken the 2 card and run for my life cause there's no way I'd win anything doing math 😂

[@omega-xk4gj]

@@rebecalescano8209 Fate: Alright so here's the thing, we're play a game and you have to calcula- Me: Imma stop you right there, you can go ahead and kill me.

[@TheGregamonster]

Ted Ed: Can you solve a riddle? Me: Can you ask me a riddle? Ted: Yes. Me: A real riddle? Not a math question? Ted: . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ted: Yes. Me: Ok, then I'll give it a shot.

[@totoitutucoco]

😂same here

[@zacharynguyen7286]

Hope everyone is doing good. Sending support and hearts! 🙌❤️❤️❤️ Stay safe

[@MayaMilova]

I like that every 23 years fate takes someone’s soul, and the 23rd card is called “the soul”

[@riteshshukla2583]

Did not notice that

[@RelatedSnow8420]

Yeah, I noticed that too!

[@neogamess]

that is some tiny detail that's hidden but makes a lot of sense. nice notice to detail you got

[@neogamess]

@@PartyofZero it was not mentioned where the souls went. Also, fate want to this for generations to come so it would not make any sense to make a limit of 23.

[@selenay502]

@@RelatedSnow8420 same

[@samueljo7910]

Gotta love how the Tower (16) represents disruptive change, upheval, and destruction, and that by offering it to your ancestors, Fate guaranteed their destruction

[@thenovicenovelist]

I was thinking something similar. The Tower card is one of the potentially worst cards to pull (depending on the interpretation). It's a card that basically represents a massive shakeup in life. Sometimes it takes chaos to create change for the better, but it still represents a pretty rough ride even if things eventually end on a more positive note. Fate is, in some ways, trolling that family.

[@terencemah8521]

Love how poetic it is that the intuitive, most important first move for all the non-2 solutions is to pick 23, "The Soul". It's the highest prime and the highest value card in the game - a huge comfort and reassurance to have, and a most frightening prospect to concede to Fate on the other hand. In most circumstances, most would intuitively choose to keep "The Soul". This applies for solutions with no bonus, with 10, and even with 6. And then it hits you, if you want to take 2 and break the curse, you -must- give up "The Soul". Gave me goosebumps.

[@tristarnova3454]

That’s probably how fate’s game works, to defeat them and break the curse, you must perform a self scarfice and thus give up the soul card to fate, while still beating them

[@xuannghitarot]

Giving up the soul, do we get richer

[@kingwolf3044]

The answer is simple. Ask fate if at least one of your ancestors has green eyes. If the answer is ozo use the checkerboard to trap the pirate with treasure at his feet. If the answer is ulu use the gaussian on the ogre and free the paradoxes. Then pick the spot right before the first head to get the 2, look at fates shirt to find a magic bag and get the 10, and escape by means of a canon made by a race car builder to get the 6.

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

Lol!

[@felixlee9645]

Lol

[@pillypuppy666]

LOL🤣🤣

[@christophervandehey2614]

A perfect plan

[@Rachel-ou6pk]

TED ED reference Speedrun any%

[@KoyasuNoBara]

People are saying to just get all the bonus cards over several generations, but that ignores a part of the riddle: You're forced to play a game where only she knows the rules in advance. If you win, she's no longer the only one who knows the rules. So you risk having her change the game so that only she knows the rules again.

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

Exactly!

[@lucapri]

so you should grab the 2 instantly

[@MuzakMaker]

Aside from that premise being broken by you watching that tape before hand but the game still continuing With that in mind, You take the wealth first since generational wealth will allow for that to persist no matter if your ancestors win or lose (provided your family is smart with the wealth), then you prepare the next generation to bring a camera like your dad did and they either get lucky and can beat a new game, sacrifice themselves but prepare the next generation for game with the footage (like how you won), or if it's the same rules just keep raking in wealth and true love with your unbeatable strategy.

[@kairinase]

Speaking of changing the rules, the entity would remind him at the end that there's no 23 in the traditional Major Arcana, rendering him to lose instantly if he chose any cards that have the factors of that number!

[@Lunaphire]

@@kairinase The factors of which number?

[@torazely]

Fate: if you claim the six card, you will find true love! Our father, who is married and has us, a child: ...

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

His true love was the dog all along

[@shreeyamittal1771]

Underrated❤

[@stellaleicht4035]

​@@TojiFushigoroWasTaken oh. Oh no

[@zulephizus1212]

In order for the reward to activate, you have to win your duel. Mom and Dad found love on their own naturally

[@JLvatron]

Just realized Love can be the cruelest trick in this twisted game; as you instantly fall in love with …that freak Fate!!

[@just-apt]

Fate: If you take 2, it will break the curse… Me: *grabs it instantly*

[@funkydiscogod]

Nah. If you break the curse, then nobody else will have the chance to play for wealth or love.

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

​@@funkydiscogod Or Get their literal soul taken.

[@DreadBirate]

@@funkydiscogod i wouldnt want to risk my descendants souls like that for selfish reasons

[@just-apt]

@@funkydiscogod you literally are wealthy and famous in the story

[@petrblaha8806]

@@DreadBirate Well you can tell them or write the solution

[@J1P2K]

Break the curse! My family is already rich and famous from our fortune telling.

[@analander9222]

I'd rather take money or true love and tell my family how to play the game.

[@bf842903]

@@analander9222 There is guarantee Fate wont play another game

[@BertoxolusThePuzzled]

​@@bf842903 That was not stipulated anywhere in the rules, merely figuring out the rules took countless human sacrifices it is only fair that figuring it out should have an equivalent reward no?

[@OmbreDunDouble]

Go for the love of your life and accept to prepare a lineage of mathematical warriors always passing down the key to true love again and again. That's the spirit for f*ck sake ✊🔥

[@ArticBlueFox96]

@@OmbreDunDouble I like this one. Because a great logician will be able to outsmart fate even if she changes the game, but the game gives the family further opportunities are love or wealth. Breaking the curse is tempting because you want to free your family, and they may feel like you are being selfish if you don't try to free them, but at the same time, now that you know you can win, they may want the opportunity to challenge fate in the future, and breaking the curse might also break your fortunetelling powers. You already have wealth due to your fortunetelling, so go for the true love.

[@SonicLoverDS]

There's an old computer game called The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary, which is essentially a package of various minigames and puzzles. One of them was called Tax Factor, and it played by essentially the same rules as this game. It's how I know "start by taking the largest prime" is a winning strategy.

[@genius11433]

That reminded me that I played that same game when I was a kid! And for some reason, I remember that a game with similar rules was called "The Tax Collector".

[@magicdatabase]

@SonicLoverDS and @genius11433 yeah I remember a similar game, though I knew it by the name of "The Taxman". I know it's been around since the 70's, but I don't know exactly how old the game is.

[@jaxtonlango6554]

We did that in my Math class

[@MrJtb17]

Yes! I managed to find the same 140 vs. 136 solution on my own and I broke the curse for my family. This is the first Ted-Ed riddle I've been able to solve on my own in a while.

[@08_BTR]

yes, another riddle video! These are always fun, and I think this one was really creative, probably gonna become one of my favourites!

[@umidayusanova9891]

Can someone explain me the meaning of this video?😮

[@greenbook6389]

THE ARCANA IS THE MEANS BY WHICH ALL IS REVEALED

[@zacharynguyen7286]

Hope everyone is doing good

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

A lot of people are like: "Don't break the curse cause you know the rules and a family member can get wealth or love" 1. Well once you win, fate will know that you will tell everyone else about the rules, so he will change them 2. Fate can use other tactics, and your family might not all the time they might win, they might do a mistake! 3. He clearly states that fate is the only one that knows the rules in advace, so ya... if you win, then fate will just change it

[@Pandacalifornia]

Fate is female

[@Geckoreo]

@@Pandacalifornia was it stated?

[@Pandacalifornia]

@@Geckoreo Yes

[@aurorawizard7045]

4. Do any of you get what the curse means??? It means Fate won't ever disturb you again. So no one will go back to Fate again.

[@muk_is_superior]

Fate won't change the rules he's a nice guy

[@AA-100]

If youre only going for the highest score and ignoring the special cards (2,6,10), the best sequence I came up with is 23,9,21,15,14,22,18,12,20,16 with a final score 170 - 106

[@ammaniammal15]

1. Take 2 2. Take the remaining cards in ascending order and not lose. Score:2 + composites - primes without 2 so u win and break the curse.

[@alish2950]

Nice, thats the best possible. I made a recursive function to test: ... New best: 52, My total: 164, Opponent total: 112, Path: [17, 9, 15, 21, 14, 18, 12, 16, 20, 22] New best: 56, My total: 166, Opponent total: 110, Path: [19, 9, 15, 21, 14, 18, 12, 16, 20, 22] New best: 64, My total: 170, Opponent total: 106, Path: [23, 9, 15, 21, 14, 18, 12, 16, 20, 22] best: 64

[@xelnaga64]

You can't take 18 tho

[@jasongodding6655]

​@@xelnaga64Why not? The 6 is still on the table by that point.

[@xelnaga64]

@@jasongodding6655 oh ok my bad

[@himanshu6188]

Always love these riddles/puzzles... Thanks Ted-ed!

[@InsertOutstandingUser]

One of my classes from last year watched your riddles everyday. Still love them!

[@oberlin27]

I absolutely love these! Even when it's just simpler math riddles or popular ones like the NIM one, Ted-Ed always puts together great animations, neat little stories to go with, and I could listen to the narrator talk about paint drying and I'd enjoy it. I haven't seen one quite like this one before so it's an added bonus

[@shirshajitsingha7567]

I honestly spent a whole day trying to sift through permutations, trying to get all 3 prize cards. ALL DAY. It was really fun tho. It really helped to start as if there were only 10 cards and figuring out the optimal solution, and then adding a card or two till I reach 23. Really made sure I knew how all the cards interacted with each other, and the optimal ways to use them.

[@DropDeadJD]

23 years ago your father lost the challenge and died but today you, a 6 year old, must face Fate

[@Dev84376]

Big brain How can I be his son if I am a kid and he died 23 years ago?

[@ayyappanchithambaram4575]

​@@Dev84376 Huh now that you say that, that is strange...

[@Ben-fp2yc]

why would you marry off a 6 yr old too?

[@franzicoy]

​@@Dev84376 He died between your mother's pregnancy & your birth, because he probably had that fate where she who marries him will be pregnant for YEARS.

[@franzicoy]

@@Ben-fp2yc The tarot that says "you'll find your true love" doesn't mean in your current age. It only says you'll find your true love SOMEDAY.

[@Youhadabadday2021]

I love how this riddle gives you a hint for the right starting play by making it so that the card you need to pick to guarantee a victory is the card with a reward that is most relevant to the story.

[@Bronzescorpion]

You misunderstood the solutions. You neither need the 2 nor are you guaranteed to win if you choose it. You can win with either of the three rewards, but only one of them at a time.

[@TheBlobik]

@@Bronzescorpion He meant that 23 - the highest prime AND the highest card - is called "the soul" - which is the thing you are playing for. Taking highest prime first is not necessary (you can win if you take 2) but it is probably an easy heuristic.

[@Bronzescorpion]

@@TheBlobik The 23 card does not reward you your soul, despite its name and as you said is needed, neither does it guarantee your victory. I think I am pretty justified in thinking he meant the number 2 card, since it actually does give you an reward, but regardless the comment is wrong, no matter which card he meant.

[@marcoscarou7762]

Tried to take a price and couldn't make anyone work for like an hour, tried with the 23 first and won fast and easy; what I've learnt is that maybe you shouldn't want more than what you already have, or watch more of this videos to claim it. One of my favourites so far ❤

[@Bronzescorpion]

It isn't that hard to claim one of the rewards and still win though. Once you see that you should pick 15 before 20 for example it gets trivial to solve.

[@katandallthat]

this is the first ted ed riddle i’ve ever solved completely on my own and it’s about tarot, which i love, so this was a nice start to my day

[@rextyrrano5183]

that guy looks awfully young for having lost his father 23 years ago.

[@judysyoufy1691]

😂

[@jarige4489]

Fantastic riddle and animation as always! Thanks, Ted!

[@fernandobignardi6716]

I love the riddles but some of them I need to watch over, and over again until I get even the game itself 😂

[@terencemah8521]

Had lots of fun on this one! Spent slightly over an hour working out what I believe are ideal solutions to all 4 scenarios (spoiler alert): . . . Taking none of 10, 6, 2, and going for the biggest winning margin possible, you get 165 points vs 111. Pick sequence: 23, 4, 22, 14, 21, 15, 20, 12, 18, 16 Choosing 10, you get 154 points vs 122. Pick sequence: 23, 9, 15, 10, 22, 21, 20, 18, 16 Choosing 6, you get 145 points vs 131. Pick sequence: 23, 4, 22, 6, 21, 15, 20, 18, 16 Choosing 2, the video already presents the solution. A few of the orderings can be switched around, of course - the algorithm I presented simply prioritises choosing the largest remaining number at the earliest opportunity. It's also interesting that for these other scenarios, picking the square numbers (4 and 9) early is ideal since (like primes) they give Fate only 1 card.

[@qc1okay]

170 beats your 165 in the first one: 23, 9, 21, 15, 14, 18, 12, 20, 16, 22 gives 170 points to 106 (Fate gets 1, 3, 7, 5, 2, 6, 4, 10, 8, 11, then 13, 17, 19). (Incidentally, in your 165, you showed Fate's score as 111 when it was actually 110.)

[@Trusty_Patches]

You can break the curse, but Fate gets your soul. Brutal.

[@RobjectionableContent]

@@-_-j You can start with 23, but then you won't be able to pick up 2 because Fate took 2's only other factor (1) when you took 23.

[@Bronzescorpion]

What are you talking about? It even showed you the solution to win while picking the second value card.

[@alexparsells219]

@@Bronzescorpion They are talking about the fact that if you take 2, then Fate gets 23 (which is the card marked "The Soul")

[@Bronzescorpion]

@@alexparsells219 ah I see, but it still isn't brutal as it doesn't get your soul, only the card named as such.

[@alex2005z]

​@@alexparsells219but Fate already had your soul, and you were just fine, so it having the card doesnt matter

[@Sovreign071]

RIDDLE! So glad they're back!

[@tntsummers926]

Obviously breaking the curse, we already have great wealth from our fortune telling, and I'm sure we'd much rather have the peace of mind that saving our family and descendents from this game will bring rather than going for true love and screwing our children or grandchildren.

[@funkydiscogod]

If you break the curse, then they won't have the chance to play for true love.

[@tntsummers926]

@@funkydiscogod I'm sorry, but what makes you think they have a chance? It's fate's game, she controls the rules, do you think she'll keep them the same after she just lost, it's unkown whether your children will live, who cares about "true love" if they're too dead to enjoy it?

[@pootissandvichhere9135]

@@tntsummers926 agreed, she manipulated the game. If you win, she’ll figure out you had foreknowledge and destroy the camera. It’s the only chance to end the curse.

[@Bronzescorpion]

@@tntsummers926 The only thing keeping me from trying to break the curse is, that you get a low value card. You can still win, but if we play along with story and you are thrust into the game with little preparation, I wouldn't risk it. Getting that 23 card seems to good to miss.

[@neiribelsilvademacedo2339]

​@@funkydiscogodWho gives a damn about True Love?does The person even consent to it?

[@eggsoup6296]

Love how you take the tower and immediately lose.

[@blaiser190]

I’m breaking the curse 100% I don’t need money and I don’t need love, and I ESPECIALLY don’t need Fate herself killing my relatives every 23 years.

[@spirosggg2135]

Respect for the father , and how the camera didn’t run out from battery

[@sylviasomaduroff4472]

Maybe it needs batterys is a saying only I and one other recall the true memories from...

[@KingsleyIII]

I vastly misunderstood this one. I didn't understand that at least one factor of that card needed to remain on the table for you to take it. If the rules were "take a card, and I'll take as many of that card's factors as I can," then there would literally be nothing that Fate could do if you start taking the cards one by one, starting with 1. You'd take all the cards (including the true love, fortune, and curse breaking cards), and Fate would have none.

[@Aaa-vp6ug]

I thought the actual values were meaningless, and the goal was have more cards than fate

[@jacobgannon1088]

The rules werent clear to me on this either. Every number is a factor of itself so each number automatically has at least one factor on the table. I guess the ‘remaining’ part is implied?

[@purnima2003]

I usually NEVER get any of these but i actually half way thru got this one right!! Finally!

[@taprobanna]

I watch all TedEd riddle videos so seriously in case I ever find myself in a similar situation

[@thenovicenovelist]

Time to buy some green contact lenses if you don't have green eyes.

[@isaacdimkoff4971]

It sounds like as long as your descendants know the rules of the game, there is no chance involved. Therefore, you may advise them on the strategies they should use to gain either true love, or massive wealth, every 23 years. Fate presents not only peril, but opportunity, after all. However, if I were fate, I would change the game every time somebody wins, so the next person wouldn't be guaranteed to win. Fate is fickle, after all. In either case, just make sure that the Chosen One brings a video camera with them every 23 years.

[@13g0man]

Change the rules so the victory conditions are reversed - if you score higher, you lose. Your family has spent 23 years practicing getting the high score, that degree of inertia is hard to break.

[@jimintae3284]

both the comments ^👍

[@shinyagumon7015]

I already suspected that I shouldn't allow my opponent to make the first move, but the rest was beyond me. In regards to the treasures I have to ask if Fate will actually still want to play the game again once their trick was revealed? Because if not I would take 2 to break the curse, if they want to play the same game next time I would take Wealth and then prepare my descendants for the game. Effectively turning the curse into a blessing.

[@Bronzescorpion]

Your family is already wealthy, so that is the worst reward.

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

There is no rule stating that the game will stay the same forever & Fate can't change it, so ya, he will change the game

[@Mewdo45]

I would play it safe and break the curse. For all you know fate could change the rules on you. They already rigged the game for them to win, whats to say they can't cheat you out of a victory?

[@itaipee]

Wow. The backstory can be a stand alonne movie by itself

[@kingwolf3044]

Well we have gotten sequels to riddles before so maybe we’ll get a prequel to this one.

[@bethjacobx]

this is the darkest ted-ed riddle i've ever seen... be good at math or die like my father before me? yikes

[@zulephizus1212]

Glad to see another riddle where the very first thing i thought of (taking 23 turn 1) was actually a valid solution

[@fortune_roses]

*Break the curse!* Then, more likelihood of winning both wealth & love ♧♡

[@sylviasomaduroff4472]

The curse is already broken with 10 and 2 steering you to true loves 6

[@Basic-wm8uf]

Man, give her deck back!

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

Excellent.

[@Benusr]

If I take either wealth or love then I can tell my family the secret and its just a hop skip and a jump until *fate* wants to remove the curse because we keep winning. Ending the curse does nothing, but getting endless riches/love for the whole fam is the best outcome.

[@Schnellfisch]

Why wouldnt fate just change the game?

[@DargonVessle]

@@Schnellfischmy exact thought, Fate has one every previous encounter so we don’t know if she made the curse’s game always the same, or every win will cause the game to shift unless the player takes the option to break the curse

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

There is absolutely no rule that states the game will stay the same forever and fate can't change it!

[@Benusr]

@@Marshmellow_Cat To be fair it is implied that the game has been the same for the previous generations ergo would be shameful to date to admit defeat in this game enough so that we tell our family they will have no choice but to admit defeat and wallow...

[@Marshmellow_Cat]

@@Benusr The game has been the same cause no one has ever survived!

[@jolly6537]

I spent more than an hour to figure this one out, but eventually I managed it using similar techniques to the ones you describe in the solution. Nice riddle, thanks!

[@Nkennia]

Paused at 1:03 to ask ; how I'm a child if my father disappeared 23 years ago

[@Emily-F143]

SAME!😅

[@vickywei5293]

🤔

[@Fulvur9]

Just what I was thinking 💀

[@vichitwood]

the first riddle I (mostly) solved! I like the pure math ones like this that don't involve a lot of specific knowledge. I accidentally didn't notice I could take the 12 before the 18 and was really stuck at 128 for a but it was a fun solve anyway

[@Jessica-yv3id]

I love the Ted Ed riddle series 🤩🤩 and I have watched every single one of them and btw I would choose to break the curse

[@aarongrooves]

I actually figured this one out! =D But your explanation was...a little unclear. I think the simplest way to explain how to win: "On your turn, take the highest card you can that has ONLY ONE remaining factor on the board." With one exception... The exception is if taking a lower card would make you miss out on it's higher multiple. For instance, if you started the game by taking 2 (to end the curse), then you'll end up in a situation where taking 16 (giving Fate 4 & 8) is wiser than taking 8 (giving Fate only 4, but then you can no longer take 16). Fun riddle!

[@joyonty6211]

I chose numbers like this.. my score was 147 and Fate's score was 129. Me:: Fate:: 23 1 22 2,11 21 3,7 15 5 20 4 12 6 18 9 16 8 My score = 147 Fate:: 1+2+11+3+7+5+4+6+9+8+ remaining (10+13+14+17+19) = 129

[@sybilcollas]

Fate takes all factor cards. When you pick 22, she'll also pick 2, so you cannot pick 10 after 15.

[@creekdiver769]

when you took the 22, wouldn't death take both the 2 and 11?

[@joyonty6211]

Yup. Missed that😅

[@gingerinajacket8519]

you also don't seem to have won anything but your life in the end.

[@Petch85]

The battery quality in that camera is amazing.

[@Aostrele]

I love how fate places down the 23rd card every 23 years

[@christialuella6594]

These are awesome! I did puzzles like these in school

[@darkxemjas2910]

When I started choosing my cards, I had initially thought that all of the cards granted some kind of fortune, not just 2, 6, and 10.(I realize now that's not the case, but it was affecting what cards I was chose at the beginning) For example, the reason Fate offered the 16 card was not only because it gave him an automatic win, but because 16 is the Tower, which represents disaster when right-side up. I also thought making 23 the 'Soul' card a weird choice, and actually believed that if Fate got it, they would also get YOUR SOUL at the end of the game.

[@Audrey_Peter_and_a_million]

The first riddle I finally understood! Really fun one too.

[@lildrawhub1025]

Just solved the version where you can fully break the curse before watching the video. 2, 22, 14, 21, 15, 20, 16, 12, 18. Edit: Yay, I did it! I must say, I really liked the Tarot card theming of this Ted-Ed riddle. It was quite challenging too! Probably one of my favorites. As for the conundrum of whether or not I should even break the curse, Fate's obviously going to change the game next time. What's more is that since I was the only person able to ever defy fate even once, my family would pressure me into doing it again 23 years later since I'm literally the only person with this sort of experience. And I do NOT want to be up against the wall like this ever again.

[@janbarsk3077]

I also found that solution (only with a slightly different order since it sometimes doesn't matter), and I am happy about having broken the curse even though you bet me with five month. Congrats to you, lildrawhub1025!

[@Azerinth]

Numberphile had a recent video on practical numbers, sets of numbers whose factors could be added together to make every number between 1 and that number using only one set of those factors. These are used for things like sets of weights and it really helped me think about how to work through this one.

[@miyuruseneviratne1960]

I think I know how to solve this according to my theory. First, you should use the even numbers. First, number 4, 12,14,16,18,20,22 because of adding those factors you get ( 3, 710,15,19,11,14) For now total of player is and score of the witch is 79. Then now use the card 10 in the end. That will solve the problem. See if I am right!

[@vicraiden3068]

Breaking the curse is the only win here that matters to me in the long run. If I take it, none of my descendants would have to risk their souls ever again. Meanwhile love and riches could easily be acquired in so many other ways.

[@axisred2301]

No, I think breaking the curse would be the worst option. Once you know how to win, assuming Fate never changes the rules or the game, your family can guarantee riches or true love every time.

[@vicraiden3068]

Ah yes, gaming the system. Going out of the way to uphold the curse while taking the other rewards whenever possible. But even then, it's highly likely Fate would eventually catch on and do something to break the family's winning streak, pretty much sending us back to square one.

[@ProfAzimov]

​@axisred2301 Thats a big if there chief

[@neiribelsilvademacedo2339]

​@@axisred2301and IF fate does?everyone dies

[@RayneKravenSegura-fw1om]

​ @axisred2301 i can tell you've never cared about your family ONCE in your life

[@blueshadeseraphim6926]

If you think about it, taking the prize of great fortune is completely redundant since it’s said in the intro how your family’s deck already does that. So it would be wise to pick one of the other options instead.

[@glisteningdice6841]

I like how The high priestess is my tarot card and this is the earliest I’ve every been to a Ted Ed video

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

How do you get your own tarot card?

[@glisteningdice6841]

@@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209 It's like from Zodicas like from your month and date

[@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209]

@@glisteningdice6841 can you tell what is for what month? Or depends on position of moon?

[@glisteningdice6841]

@@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209 It's like really long like it's different for each month with a different date sometimes it's the same I think

[@glisteningdice6841]

@@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209 Do you want me to find out yours or? Again privacy so nevermind

[@tamirleibovich]

I love the morbid themes behind these simple riddles 🤣😊

[@sylviasomaduroff4472]

Morbid, I like this word and backdrop theme with it correlation of a dream in dreams. Time to wake up

[@BertoxolusThePuzzled]

An interesting side note I didn't see mentioned, if you solve the puzzle you don't actually benefit from breaking the curse anymore as you can sinply go back and tell your descendents what to do. In fact this "curse" eould then become essentially a "farmable" source of wealth and true love as there'd be no risk in doing it anymore.

[@ravionjohnson8852]

No, there would still be a risk of participating in the game. Why are we assuming Fate would keep the rules of the game EXACTLY the same after people are suddenly out of no where, winning and attaining wealth or their true loves? You're banking entirely on the idea that Fate would keep the rules of the game the same after you've won. Who says she wouldn't change the rules? Who says she wouldn't change the game entirely? Not breaking the curse is too risky.

[@BertoxolusThePuzzled]

@@ravionjohnson8852 It's only fair. Fate got however many ancestors via trickery, it's only fair we get to exploit seeing through the trickery and winning anyways. This would ultimately come down to the terms of the magical contract as well as how honest and fair Fate is as an entity.

[@ravionjohnson8852]

@@BertoxolusThePuzzled I don't think Fate cares about fairness. She literally stole the souls of many people via tricking them into losing whilst explaining the rules.

[@BertoxolusThePuzzled]

@@ravionjohnson8852 Ahh, that's just it though. If she DIDN'T have a sense of fairness she wouldn't bother with the game AT ALL and would just claim your soul by force, as she seems entirely capable of doing in our given example. The fact that she is even bothering with the card game at all suggests at least SOME sense of fairness and propriety IMO.

[@ravionjohnson8852]

@Bardock224 that's true, but that doesn't mean she is fair enough to let you and your descendants exploit her to get infinite fortune/true love every 23 years just because she tricked your ancestors into basically losing the game whilst explaining the rules to them.

[@realmofriddles]

Pretty good riddle!

[@jw5545]

Love how they’re sending the child in

[@jitendramourya9484]

He is atleast 23 years old

[@Dev84376]

Cause logic

[@hasl3r775]

@@jitendramourya9484 *22 years and 3 months

[@peter-johnthomas7440]

I like how every ted ed video has a different art stile👌

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

"There's no fate but what we make for ourselves" Kyle, Sarah, John

[@truthboom]

You are fated to make a decision

[@jeffcarroll1990shock]

​@@truthboombecause after all, fate holds all the cards. It's simply generous enough to make you think that you've made a choice of your own free will.

[@sylviasomaduroff4472]

We all accepted our own fates, but can we get fate to accept its own

[@sylviasomaduroff4472]

​​​@@truthboomunless you subscribe to the idea that we have no free will and use this to our outsmarts where fate doesn't dwell among slaves already subjected to it. You can unsubscribe anytime. It would help to remember your dreams and talk to your dad about what you've learned so he can behave in a way that avoids paradoxes. Hints to get him to make you with your mom are helpful.

[@loveu2737]

I love this kind of videos that you make. Please, keep making them❤.

[@fyukfy2366]

No need to break the curse, you get out and know the rules so your whole family can continue to win forever!

[@ravionjohnson8852]

Yes, that's true! Until of course Fate changes the rules of the game, or changes the game entirely...

[@PartyofZero]

@@ravionjohnson8852 Or if they use their incredible luck to break the curse. Also, how would figure out the rules?

[@randaya5854]

Honestly, I wouldn't trade my family for true love or money, given that we're already rich. Breaking the curse is the best way to go here, as no one wants to worry that they'll be next in line for dying.

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

If 21(the world) and 13(star platinum), 13 wins by plot armor

[@sandradermark8463]

Star Platinum is 17, actually

[@moss_tindall]

I think break the curse because they already have riches because they are famous for being the best fortune tellers in all the land and if that is so then they could trick a girl into thinking that it is her divine purpose to love him then she will and if you break the curse then none of your family will have to pretentiously risk their lives Because now fate knows how the family plays

[@yanagelfand4337]

Got it with 147 vs 129! FInally I got a riddle! I started with 23 and then worked my way mostly down but keeping in mind the numbers with a lot of factors, like 20 and 18, which must be taken later, after some of their factors are already out of the game. No extra cards though, we are a modest family, I decided.

[@AA-100]

Taking cards in this order: 23 9 21 15 14 22 18 12 20 16 scores 170 - 106

[@coda4614]

I'm sorry but this is wrong try again after few months, couse you can't take 18, the fate already take 2 (14) and 3(21) and you take 9 in second move @@AA-100

[@NoNameAtAll2]

if anyone wonders, there're 40991 possible games where you win with nothing, 392 with breaking the curse, 14456 with love and 7346 with riches 0 with two or more rewards

[@NoNameAtAll2]

to be able to get all three of 2,6 and 10 - there must be cards up to 36 (not 23 like in the video)

[@dwarfoscar]

The game is unwinnable. At 1:49, the dad picks the 15, and Fate picks the 6 in response. 6 is not a factor of 15. Fate cheats.

[@redrackham6812]

The whole riddle ignores the fact that every number is a factor of itself, meaning that, as long as a number is on the table, it has a factor on the table, and you can take it. So you can take the one, since it is on the table, then the two, then the three, all the way to twenty-three, and win the game in a shut-out while also claiming all the rewards.

[@HUMAN9241]

Technically, for the long term, you can choose either the wealth card or love card and not choose the curse-ender card if you teach all family members the strategy. So then your family always will have love or wealth every 23 years. Love the riddles

[@Dev84376]

Fate didn’t said you can’t grab more than one card at once, just that the card has at least a factor that is left on the table. *Me grabs all cards 2 to 23 at once*

[@Dhru08]

On the 1st try, I lost against fate, but after trying for the 2nd time, I won by a margin of 20, but didn't get any of the 3 rewards and I thought this is how you win and surrender. If I could try again, I would go with card number 6.

[@adventureboy444]

My strategy: - Take number 23, Fate can only gain 1 - Now blindly take number that have at least 1 factor in an increasing (not sure if I say that right) order, skip if there is none Edit: I lose. Goodbye 😢

[@adventureboy444]

Tho I got the first one right With caution, I might win but awwell

[@kevinlane1219]

👋

[@DavidJason-kt1ve]

Ben waiting on these riddle keep it up

[@visceralconfidence2987]

This was the first one that actually stumpt me with the rules. What determines if you can pick a card, and whether fate recieves a card, are too convoluted to wrap my head around, and I’m a 100% math nerd. Oh well. Great art.

[@alexnikolov]

Yeah it really wasn't explained well at all.

[@Bronzescorpion]

It is quite simple really. If there are any factors left you may pick up the card and fate gets the factors. Look at these four cards 5 10 15 20 If you pick up the 20, fate takes the 5 and 10 because they are factors of 20. You can't pick up 15 as you don't have any remaining factors to give to fate. The best play in this instance would be to take the 15, fate then takes the 5 and you take the 20 and fate gets the 10.

[@owlspiritpal7559]

Personally I think the best ending for the future would be just to win without going for special cards. That way I can tell the family the guaranteed win strategy and also give them the chance to figure out another strategy to get the bonus rewards since I can’t figure it out myself. And strangely enough, in my math class we played a game similar to this riddle called the tax collector, it’s the same rules as this but the number goes up to 48

[@TheBraekfaest]

Step 1. Tell all the cards in fate's hand that "At least one of you has green eyes.". Step 2. Wait for as many days as fate has cards. Step 3. There are now no more cards in fate's hand because they all asked to leave the previous night after they all figured out they all have green eyes. Step 4. Take the 2, 6 and 10 cards if they haven't left the island. Step 5. Get riches, find true love and break the curse all at the same time.

[@kingwolf3044]

Why did I have to scroll so far down to one of these? It’s a tradition! Someone has to mention the green eyes. Just don’t forget to use the noether 9000 on yourself to get to the mountain so fate doesn’t catch up to you.

[@TheBraekfaest]

@@kingwolf3044 Also, can't forget The elemental crystals!

[@kingwolf3044]

Of course. And ozo and ulu

[@ZenithF0RTE]

Another great video! Thanks!

[@krisbd6262]

Ask Fate if she has green eyes.

[@vodkacyclone677]

First time successfully answering it correctly in one shot!!!😂😂 Time to break the curse!!!!

[@jaiveonwatts2195]

I think it's interesting that fate offers you the tower. It symbolizes destruction and it also ensures your doom.

[@luiscosta6610]

Here's how I solved the riddle (for anyone who wants to know how to get to the final order in which the cards should be taken): 1) Going for the highest possible score I want 23 --> Fate will take 1 I want 22 --> Fate will take 2, 11 I want 21 --> Fate will take 3, 7 I want 20 --> Fate will take 4, 5, 10 I can't have 19 (prime number) I want 18 --> Fate will take 6, 9 I can't have 17 (prime number) I want 16 --> Fate will take 8 I want 15, but both 3 and 5 are already going to be taken. However, if I take 15 before 20, I'll be able to get 15 (--> Fate will take 5) and then also get 20 (as Fate will still have 4 and 10 to take) I want 14, but both 2 and 7 are already going to be taken. However, if I take 14 before 21, I'll be able to get 14 (--> Fate will take 7) and then also get 21 (as Fate will still have 3 to take) I can't have 13 (prime number) I want 12, but both 2 and 6 are already going to be taken. However, if I take 12 before 18, I'll be able to get 12 (--> Fate will take 6) and then also get 18 (as Fate will still have 9 to take) I can't take any more cards My final score: 161 Fate's final score: 115 2) Going for the number 2 card, which breaks the curse Instead of taking the initial 23, take number 2 Since 22 still has 11 as a prime, the remaining steps work just fine Final scores: 140 vs. 136 3) Going for the number 10 card, which grants you riches After having taken 23 and before taking 15, instead of taking 15, take number 10 Since 20 still has 4 as a prime, the remaining steps work just fine As 10 will essentially be replacing 15 for the card that is going to have Fate take 5, final scores go down 5 and up 5, i.e. 156 vs. 120

[@wren_.]

i’ll take wealth. because my soul isn’t taken, I can explain the rules to other family members so they can break the curse instead of me. or they can just keep choosing wealth forever and get infinite money. that’s their choice now.

[@xuannghitarot]

How do you know the rules if your soul isn't taken

[@melodylai40]

I’ve met something similar in my math textbook. You and your friend are playing with cards with numbers 1 to 100. You must take turn to take cards with the following rules: 1. The first person must take an even number. 2. Everyone must take one of the numbers from the last card’s factors or multiples. 3. If a person doesn’t have any cards to take, he or she loses. If you go first, what should you take first to win? Bonus: If your friend goes first, how can you win? For the first riddle, it’s 62, which I thought it for almost a year. For the bonus, I don’t know that, but it’s important. If my classmates know that I’m commenting here, they won’t let me go first!

[@greegypt2030]

Definitely do NOT take the 2 because the “curse” is now an opportunity to win riches to love for every single descendant. You can tell them all how to win and your family would never lose again.

[@ravionjohnson8852]

You tell your family how to win the game and obtain true love and wealth: 🥳🥳😊😄😁 The next family member to participate in the game when they find out Fate changed the game entirely after you've won, and they now have no strategy to win this game: 😨😱😱😱😱😱

[@normalchannel2185]

I got 2 solutions, but you have to choose ONE of the super cards. If you want Riches(in the rules it says riches but before that it said great fortune which means good luck) pick: 23 10 15 22 21 20 18 16 If you want Love take: 23 15 6 22 21 20 18 16 You definitely dont want to break the curse: since it only breaks if you get out alive, it means that you can tell your kids how to get rich/loved. And fate wont change the system, and if she did then it means she would have changed it anyways if you had chosen to break the curse

[@normalchannel2185]

And in english, FortuneS with a s means wealth and riches, but Fortune with no S means luck

[@kevinlane1219]

Thank you so much.

[@brnchiggins]

If you don't care about the curse at all or taking any of the special cards it's possible to score a much more impressive victory by just figuring out which cards on the board offer the biggest difference between their point value and the total point value of their remaining factors.

[@thisisangellorenzo]

Damn nice I usually don't solve most of these riddles, but im just very proud I did the exact same sequence shown from 4:19 !!!

[@ishredder4006]

You start from 1 then 2 then 3 till you have all the cards and you win, fate's turn will be skipped everytime because you already have the factors.

[@namtruonggay]

Man you can't take 2 or 3 or the remaining prime number card on the table because you take card 1 away

[@aishana6626]

This solution has to be known !!!!

[@sousentabasco7711]

I like how the first move is to take the soul card as to make sure fate doesn't take it, otherwise you might end up realizing as you run out of moves how fate will take all the remaining cards and your soul