Of Math and the Simpsons

"The Simpsons...contains over a hundred instances of mathematics ranging from arithmetic to geometry to calculus, many designed to expose and poke fun at innumeracy. In fact, Al Jean, Executive Producer and head writer, has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University."

Who knew? Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC and Dr. Andrew Nestler, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA, who produced simpsonmath.com.

Here, from Andrew Nestler's Guide to Mathematics and Mathematicians on The Simpsons a sample from Bart The Genius (7G02, 1/14/90):

Child genius to Bart: Tell you what, Bart, I'll trade you the weight of a bowling ball on the eighth moon of Jupiter for my lunch, for the weight of a feather on the second moon of Neptune from your lunch.

Another child genius to Bart: I'll trade you 1000 picoliters of my milk for 4 gills of yours.

3. Teacher at gifted school: So y = r^3/3 and if you determine the rate of change in this curve correctly, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

[Class laughs.]

Teacher: Don't you get it, Bart? Derivative dy = 3r^2 dr/3, or r^2 dr, or r dr r. Har-de-har-har! Get it?

This site does makes two very instructive points: 1) it is the depth of the cartoon series that makes it so much fun for so many people, and 2) things that we think of as "pure entertainment" may, given the intelligence of the writers and the insights of the instructors, also lead to learning.

Thanks for this highly entertaining and yet significantly educational connection go to Ultimate Insult