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One is one...or is it? - Christopher Danielson

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TEDEd Animation

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One bag of apples, one apple, one slice of apple -- which of these is one unit? Explore the basic unit of math (explained by a trip to the grocery store!) and discover the many meanings of one.

The speaker offers a dozen eggs as a clear example of a composed unit and a slice of bread as a clear example of partitioned unit. Things are not always so clear, however. Is an inch a partitioned unit obtained from a foot, or is a foot a composed unit obtained from an inch? What other examples can you think of where we can argue over the original unit?

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About 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

  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Artist Celeste Lai
  • Educator Christopher Danielson
  • Animator Franz Palomares
  • Narrator Christopher Danielson

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