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Subject: [evol-psych] Digest Number 2890
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1. Article: Mathematical references abound on The Simpsons
From: Robert Karl Stonjek
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1. Article: Mathematical references abound on The Simpsons
Posted by: "Robert Karl Stonjek" [EMAIL PROTECTED] r_karl_s
Date: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:36 am ((PST))
Springfield Theory
Mathematical references abound on The Simpsons
Erica Klarreich
In the 1995 Halloween episode of the award-winning animated sitcom The
Simpsons, two-dimensional Homer Simpson accidentally jumps into the third
dimension. During his journey in this strange world, geometric solids and
mathematical formulas float through the air, including an innocent-looking
equation: 178212 + 184112 = 192212. Most viewers surely ignored this bit of
mathematical gobbledygook.
Fox Broadcasting Company
On the fan discussion site alt.tv.simpsons, however, the equation caused a bit of a stir.
"What's going on, he seems to have disproved Fermat's last theorem!" one fan
marveled, referring to the famous claim by Pierre de Fermat-proved just months
earlier-that for any exponent n bigger than 2, there are no nonzero whole numbers a, b,
and c for which an + bn = cn. The Simpsons equation, if correct, would be a
counterexample to the theorem, meaning that the proof had been wrong.
Plug the equation into any run-of-the-mill calculator and it seems to check
out. The 12th root of 178212 + 184112, according to a calculator, is 1,922. Yet
it's easy to see that the equation is false, because the left-hand side is odd,
while the right-hand side is an even number. There's no paradox here: It's
simply a matter of the calculator's round-off error.
To David X. Cohen, the Simpsons writer who concocted the equation, the fans' responses
were a source of glee. Cohen had written a computer program specifically to look for what
mathematicians call Fermat "near misses": combinations of numbers a, b, c, and
n that come so close to satisfying Fermat's equation that they would seem to work when
tested on a calculator.
Why go to such lengths for a background joke that would flash across the screen
in a matter of seconds? Mainly for the fun of it, but also to flex intellectual
muscles that don't typically get exercised in Hollywood script rooms: Cohen has
a master's degree in computer science.
As a mathematically inclined Simpsons writer, Cohen is in good company.
Although nobody would call The Simpsons a science show, the writing staff
boasts an impressive array of former mathematicians, scientists, and computer
scientists. Over the years, they have injected their brand of geeky humor into
the show. They've written hundreds of math jokes, ranging in subtlety from
Cohen's fake Fermat equation to open jabs at the mathematical illiteracy of the
general public. Math has occasionally even provided the theme of an episode.
Source: ScienceNews
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060610/bob8.asp
Comment:
Fermat - huh. Here is Robert's theorem:
that for any exponent n bigger than 3, there are no nonzero whole numbers a, b,
c and d for which an + bn + cn=dn ie 33 + 43 + 53=63
Note that one of the few Mathematical jokes that has endured the test of time
was written by me! Search google with the following string:
"Robert Karl Stonjek" erdos
....must write some more....
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek
Messages in this topic (1)
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