2 puzzles from George Gamow, each explained in a minute and credited to the original work. Free on Savvy.
The Grand Hotel has infinitely many rooms, numbered 1, 2, 3 and onward, and every single one is occupied tonight. A new guest arrives asking for a room. Can the manager accommodate…
— David Hilbert (originating lecture); popularised by George Gamow, One Two Three... Infinity
A physicist with an office near the bottom of a building noticed the first elevator to stop at his floor was almost always heading down. A colleague near the top noticed the opposi…
— Marvin Stern, George Gamow, Elevator paradox