simpsons writers mathematicians

Some have seen philosophy embedded in episodes of The Simpsons; others have detected elements of psychology and religion.Simon Singh, bestselling author of Fermat's Last Theorem, The Code Book and The Big Bang, instead makes the compelling case that what The Simpsons' writers are most passionate about is mathematics. So up in - late in the show - late in the process of making the show we suddenly say, wait a second, Homer's a genius in this episode writing on a blackboard. And by the end of the episode, though, everybody wants to get back to their original bodies. The Simpsons and their mathematical secrets proves that you can be both good at maths and funny. You know, we just wanted to fill up the space and make it look like Homer was doing something smart. And, you know, it shows the extent of what's going on in "Futurama" and "The Simpsons.". And again, maybe a lot of comedians and comedy writers are slightly outside to the mainstream. Mathematicians have no idea what the answer to this question is. RICHARD: Hey guys. Is there such a thing as a former writer, David? Matthew in Denver. SINGH: Professionals are very impressed by what goes on in "The Simpsons.". Copyright © 2013 NPR. So I certainly observed that throughout my life. So, you know, somebody else could and probably has written a book about "The Simpsons" and history of "The Simpsons" and philosophy. Now, what's lovely about that is that's never explained to the viewer. And I thought that's a joke you would not see on most sitcoms on TV. So both these two people, Mike Reiss, Al Jean both loved math, both loved comedy writing. And he went away and came up with a proof which is generally known as the Futurama Theorem. After all, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed … How did it end up in "The Simpsons?". FLATOW: Or are you just doing it for yourself? I want to play a clip of the episode called "Homer Cubed." That, of course, is the theme of the longest running sitcom in American history. That's funny. FLATOW: I'm going to have to hold you there. As an example, David X Cohen, one of the writers, graduated from Harvard University with B.A. We see the line p equals np. And he says no fair. David X. Cohen, a former "Simpson" writer and executive producer of "Futurama," "The Simpsons" sister series. I'm Ira Flatow. He was just a genius. COHEN: We've struggled a little bit to claim that. FLATOW: Have "The Simpsons," you know, at the very beginning where they all climb into the couch, has any math ever been used in that little opening there? So there are lots of sketches on the Internet of Bart doing the chalkboard gag but with complicated math instead, or complicated equations repeated line after line. FLATOW: Very close to our heart. It's not very interesting. Apparently, the majority of the writers for the show were schooled in mathematics, physics, or engineering, so they are fond of including mathematics into the show, a good deal in cameo. There's a reference to Cartesian coordinates. We're talking with Simon Singh, author of the book "The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets" and David X. Cohen, a former "Simpson" writer, executive producer of "Futurama," the "Simpsons" sister series. And we were saying, oh, this isn't so hard. So that's why we all kind of hem and haw, because we don't want to give the answer and we don't really want to know. FLATOW: I'm Ira Flatow. Although I visit once in a while. In fact, Al Jean, Executive Producer and head writer, has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. Why are mathematicians willing to give up a career at Harvard and go into comedy writing? COHEN: Yes, believe it or not. And ideally you would like to have them in that nice, neat arrangement where the biggest one is on the bottom, then they're in order up to the smallest one on top. FLATOW: Simon Singh, thank you very much for taking time to be with us today and good luck on the book. I really didn't know whether you guys were intentionally doing it or not. MATTHEW: Hi there. Some episodes, such as Treehouse of Horror episodes are divided into three smaller stories which have then been given a title. In The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets, Simon Singh explains how the brilliant writers, some of the mathematicians, have smuggled in mathematical jokes throughout the cartoon's twenty-five year history, exploring everything from to Mersenne primes, from Euler's equation to the unsolved riddle of P vs. NP, from perfect numbers to narcissistic numbers, and … Your favorite number to crop up in `` Futurama, '' `` the Simpsons and their mathematical secrets that... 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