Spongebob's Pineapple Is Mathematically Impossible: Vi Hart

Spongebob may live under the sea, but according to one math expert, despite the claims of his theme song, he's not making his home in an authentic pineapple.

In a bit of fun, overly critical analysis, "mathemusician" and YouTuber Vi Hart has posted an open video letter to Nickelodeon asserting that the animated home of their hit sponge character is not, as they insist, a real pineapple. It's mathematically impossible, Hart says, because real pineapples follow a fibonacci sequence, and Spongebob's "pineapple" house does not.

She then goes on to prove it, drawing diagrams and using an actual pineapple as proof. Your move, Nickelodeon.

WATCH:

Comments

[Asmodeus]

02:29 AM on 02/04/2012

Meanwhile: Still no cure for cancer, and still no powered armor. Screw flying cars.

[Wilkby]

02:44 PM on 02/03/2012

I love nerds.

[Lee Sawyer]

01:28 AM on 02/02/2012

Cute, and a neat way to introduce some interesting math concepts (Fibonacci sequences, symmetries, logarithmic spiral). I could this being used in a junior high math class, at least as an intro to the subject.

[PrairieGayCompanion]

08:18 PM on 02/01/2012

I think I've found a science fair project for my kid.

[Rimshot Gdansk]

02:09 PM on 02/01/2012

Hmmm. . . I think I'm a little bit in love with Vi Hart.

[CLARKE20]

10:57 AM on 02/01/2012

did any of yall read the paragraph above the video?!!!
In a bit of fun, overly critical analysis, "mathemusician"
what does everyone have to criticise everything they see now a days?

[F7]

04:55 PM on 02/03/2012

Because in this case it is, well . . ., educational!

[JScott]

10:39 AM on 02/01/2012

For that matter how bout the Simpson's house, it violates a lot of that stuff and the Jetson's how does that thingy work when Judy can press a button and change the interior from Space Provincial to Moon Modern anyway.

[minidriver]

02:08 PM on 01/31/2012

Cartoon Physics also allows you to walk out over thin air without falling (until you realize your situation), break through brick walls without injury, pour water or have a campfire while underwater, and a whole lot of other impossible things. What of it?

[fred jonze 56271]

06:33 PM on 01/31/2012

it's one of the first subjects in a popular theme song. it had to be criticized at some point.

[kidochick]

01:13 PM on 01/31/2012

They do realize that the debate is over a CARTOON'S house??? So it is ficitional and anything is possible.

[OldHenry]

12:50 PM on 01/31/2012

There are also campfires at the bottom of ocean on Spongebob.

[activist57]

12:48 PM on 01/31/2012

This is incredibly sad.

She's obviously intelligent, but wastes her time assessing mathematical probability of things from a child's cartoon?

Her brain could be of much more use elsewhere.

[fred jonze 56271]

06:26 PM on 01/31/2012

off the top of your head, name some living mathematicians besides the author of this video.

[CPAwADD]

07:44 PM on 01/31/2012

Benoit Mandlebrot, off the top of my head.

[AgentGrey]

01:03 PM on 02/18/2012

Your point is that smart people should never do things just for fun? Or are you assuming that she spends ALL her time and talent analyzing cartoons? Either way, save your tears and maybe do something productive.

[Lovenhugs]

12:45 PM on 01/31/2012

I'm so glad the Huff Post is out there reporting on the big and real issues of the day. I feel a lot safer now.

[fred jonze 56271]

06:24 PM on 01/31/2012

oh, come now, huffpo is garbage. just an accumulation of filth under the left shoe.

[Lovenhugs]

06:49 PM on 01/31/2012

Hopefully you do know I was being sarcastic. "Sheldon Cooper" doesn't recognize sarcasm but I hope you all did. LOL

[oldsquare]

07:38 PM on 01/31/2012

And just what do you call someone who steps in that "filth" and walk around with it on his shoes (or if that is too subtle for you, why are you even here; you have nothing of substance to say and you don't agree with the flavor of stories covered).

[jasnic9091]

12:38 PM on 01/31/2012

It is comforting to know that someone with such a brain can put it to good use.
Mankind has nothing to worry about!

[Not2Tired2Stand]

12:34 PM on 01/31/2012

Someone should inform her that Spongebob lives in an extra dimension that doesn't adhere to the Fibonacci sequence. In that dimension, Golden Ratio is also obsolete; but that's the subject of a different discussion.

Had she taken a Spongebobology course at any state university, she'd know this. Sadly, she must have been educated at a private institution.

[Lovenhugs]

12:42 PM on 01/31/2012

I am pretty sure "Sheldon Cooper" could set her straight on this. LOL

[Not2Tired2Stand]

01:08 PM on 01/31/2012

I actually had to google Sheldon Cooper to find out

[kidochick]

01:14 PM on 01/31/2012

Hee hee hee!

[Spram]

12:30 PM on 01/31/2012

Wow. I started watching the video and jumped when I saw the snail. Haha, such a silly thing to be phobic about.