Mathematics in the 30 years of "The Simpsons"

The American series "The Simpsons" is in its 30th season, but few know that the longest-running animated sitcom in history features high-quality mathematics in several episodes. Five writers who have worked on the show over these 30 years are responsible for putting mathematics behind the antics of Homer, Marge, Bart, Liza, and Maggie.

Just take a look at their academic backgrounds to understand their passion for numbers. Ken Keeler holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics, and Al Jean also graduated in Mathematics from Harvard University. J. Stewart Burns holds a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of California (Berkeley), and David S. Cohen holds a Master's degree in Computer Science. Jeff Westbotk holds a PhD in Computer Science from Princeton University. With all this knowledge, they have been subtly introducing mathematics into the public's subconscious.

Homer, a misunderstood mathematician

The mathematical influence appears right in the second episode of the first season, titled " Bart the Genius ". Right at the beginning there is a reference to the most famous equation on the planet (E = mc² ⁾ , which appears on Maggie's building blocks.

There are so many episodes marked by the subject that it's difficult to choose which one to talk about. One of the most iconic is " Treehouse of Horror VI ," the sixth episode of the seventh season. Aired on October 29, 1995, it shows Homer trapped in a three-dimensional world and features the most intense five minutes of math ever broadcast to a large audience. It was watched by 22.9 million viewers, becoming Fox's highest-rated program that week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3uWLdwKjZM

Two years later, viewers went wild for the second episode of season 10. In “ The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace ,” Homer becomes depressed after learning that he has passed the halfway point of a man's life expectancy without accomplishing anything worthwhile. His family tries to cheer him up by showing him a film of his achievements. When the film projector stops working, Lisa mentions that Thomas Edison invented the projector, and Homer decides to learn more about the scientist and eventually idolizes him. In an attempt to follow in his footsteps, he quits his job at the power plant to become an inventor. And that's where mathematics comes in. The "solution" to Fermat's Last Theorem appears in the scene where Homer is shown in front of a blackboard solving a series of equations.

At first glance, it seems that the character easily achieved what took the English mathematician Andrew Wiles years to accomplish… But of course, it's a trick by the series' creators. Homer's equation barely misses the solution because the numbers 3,987, 4,365, and 4,472 almost equalize, since the calculation done by a common calculator approximates the result and masks the error.

Lisa is a genius too!

In " MoneyBart ," the third episode of season 22, Lisa uses math to coach a winning baseball team, referencing the movie "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt.

Although the entire plot is rooted in statistics, the most significant reference appears so quickly that only well-trained eyes could notice it. Shortly before her first big game in charge, Lisa is seen leaning over a stack of books, prompting a reporter to comment: "I haven't seen this many books in an office since Albert Einstein went canoeing." And that's where the mathematical trick comes in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIOTim2B1LA

One of the books is titled "e ^iπ + 1 = 0". To the untrained eye, this is just another formula, but for mathematicians, it is nothing less than the most beautiful equation in history, because it combines five of the fundamental ingredients of mathematics (0, 1, e, i, and π) into an elegant recipe. Known as Euler's identity, this formula was named in honor of the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler.

Going back to the 3rd season of the series, in the 20th episode – “ Colonel Homer ” – it's possible to notice the first appearance of the Springfield movie theater. Viewers certainly didn't see anything unusual in the name of the theater, but some noticed that it's called “Springfield Googolplex”. For those who don't know, Googol is the name that the nephew of the American mathematician Edward Kasner gave to 10^¹⁰⁰ . The reference to one of the largest numbers in the world dates back to 1938 and was revived by the writing team of “The Simpsons”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnkQRt7Qxdo&list=PLb_C5vA9ToxqBzjp5ThqqEfH0BvfeMutd

In an interview with "The Guardian," David X Cohen, one of the mathematicians responsible for the series' scripts, explains why it was worthwhile to leave academic life to put some mathematics into a TV program.

"I really would have preferred to spend my whole life as a researcher, but I think ' The Simpsons' makes math and science fun, and maybe that can influence a new generation of people."

You'll certainly see Homer and his family in a new light from now on.