The Fastest Way To Find Waldo

less than 1m read

·Nov 10, 2024

Here's how to become scary good at finding Waldo.

In 2015, data scientist Randall Olssen used all 68 of Waldo's hiding spots in the seven primary books to build this kernel density estimate. So where's Waldo really? He's here!

Now, there are more ways to connect these 68 dots than there are atoms in the observable universe, and that makes it very hard for us to find the perfect path for our eyes to trace across each page to find Waldo the fastest.

Olsen estimates it would take the 10 largest supercomputers on Earth more than 10 unvigentian times longer than the universe has existed to find the perfect solution. So instead, he used a genetic algorithm to find a nearly perfect solution.

This is how you start: on the left at the top of the bottom third, scan across for a bit and then jump up to the bottom of the top third. Move about halfway into the right page and then dive down.

If Waldo isn't there, check the very middle or the edges. Using this method, I've been able to find Waldo in an average of like 10 seconds per page. It's incredible! And guess what? Waldo has never once found me.

A 1-800 Number That Helps Animals and Humans Coexist | National Geographic

15 Pieces Of Advice Only Weak People Give You

View All

Khanmigo: Co-create a Rubric Activity

This is Kigo, an AI-powered guide designed to help all students learn. Conmigo is not just for students; teachers can use Conmigo too by toggling from the student mode to teacher mode in any course. Teachers can always access Kigo by selecting the AI acti…

I am making Axe Ghost

Hey, my name’s Thomas. This is unusual content for this channel. I realize I’ve been working on this video game called Ax Ghost. Just recently, I’ve published a demo of it on Steam, and I’m just going to play it here—play the current build—and let you see…

Representing alloys using particulate models | AP Chemistry | Khan Academy

In many videos, we have already talked about metals and metallic bonds. In this video, we’re going to dig a little bit deeper, and in particular, we’re going to talk about alloys, which are mixtures of elements but still have metallic properties. So firs…

Representing solutions using particulate models | AP Chemistry | Khan Academy

The goal of this video is to help us visualize what’s going on with the solution at a microscopic level, really at a molecular level, and also to get practice drawing these types of visualizations because you might be asked to do so depending on the type …

Fractions greater than 1 on the number line

We’re asked to move the dot to 7⁄6 on the number line, so pause this video. I can move this dot right over here, but I encourage you: pause the video and put your finger on where 7⁄6 would be on the number line. All right, now let’s work on this together…

The Soul of Music: Meklit Hadero Tells Stories of Migration | Overheard at National Geographic

[Music] Hey there, I’m Kyrie Douglas. I’m a producer here at Overheard, and this is the final episode of our four-part series focusing on music exploration and Black history. It’s called “The Soul of Music,” and National Geographic explorers will be sitti…

The Fastest Way To Find Waldo

More Articles