The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets

by Simon Singh

Mark Twain famously popularized the statement: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” In a similar vein, the chemist Fred Menger wrote: “If you torture data sufficiently, it will confess to almost anything.”

A lumberjack sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of this price. What is his profit? 1970: A lumberjack sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of this price, or in other words $80. What is his profit? 1980: A lumberjack sells a truckload of wood for $100. His cost of production is $80, and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20. 1990: By cutting down beautiful forest trees, a lumberperson makes $20. What do you think of his or her way of making a living? In your group, discuss how the forest birds and squirrels feel, and write an essay about it.