Futurama Creates New Math Theorem Specifically for Futurama

I don’t know if you’ve been watching the new season of Futurama on Comedy Central or last week’s episode, “The Prisoner of Benda,” in specific. If not, you’re missing out; I’d say the cartoon has improved significantly from those DVD movies now that it’s back in a 22-minute format, and I’d rank “Benda” along with the best episodes of seasons 3 and 4.

?But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. No, I want to talk about how Futurama writer/math Ph.D. Ken Keeler created an actual math theorem for the show. Why? Because he’s an awesome/brilliant nerd, that’s why. The episode dealt with mind-switching, with the problem that people couldn’t make the same swap twice (i.e., they couldn’t swap back). Keeler’s theorem had to do with the amount of people necessary to make sure everyone could get back in their own bodies (I don’t understand it, because I am one of those stupid nerds you don’t hear as much about). The theorem is shown on the screenshot above, and yes, it is obviously totally unnecessary to the episode — and yet Keeler did it anyways, and Futurama used it. Because Futurama is as awesome and as nerdy as it ever was. Truly, life… is good. (Via Gizmodo)