Math shows how Ross could've moved the sofa upstairs in Friends scene

Mathematician reveals how Ross could have moved the sofa upstairs in Friends legendary ‘pivot’ scene by just tilting it toward the ceiling

Friends episode’ The One with the Cop’ has a seen with Ross, Chandler and Rachel moving a couch up the stairwell of a New York City Apartment
Unable to move around a corner, Ross frantically shouts ‘Pivot’
The crew was unable to pass the corner and cut the couch in half
A mathematician found the trio should have measured the couch and stairwell
Using specific measurements would have helped them angle the couch

Friends episode ‘The One with the Cop’ is one many fans will not forget – it includes a scene with Ross frantically shouting, ‘Pivot!’ as he, Rachel and Chandler attempt to move a sofa up flights of stairs in a New York apartment.

The trio were unable to maneuver the couch around the stairwell, which forced them to cut it into pieces – but a mathematician found the endeavor would have been successful if they had only taken measurements.

Data Science Consultant Caroline Zunckel ran 10,000 simulations based on different measurements of the stairwell and couch, and found the sofa only needed to be tilted upwards to move around the corner.

‘By applying Pythagoras’ theorem to the estimated measurements of Ross’s sofa in a vertical position, and dimensions of the stairs, I was able to establish that it would have been possible to get the item upstairs. It’s quite simple really,’ Zunckel said in a blog post from apartment finder SpareRoom.

The final equations is: Angle of vertical tilt (T) =44.15064 -11.94274xWS (Width of the Stairwell) + 8.69119xWC (Width of the Couch) + 3.65961xLC (Length of the Couch).

Although the mathematical equation looks complicated, it can be broken down into steps with the first suggesting Ross should have measured the width of the stairs and width and length of the couch.

By lifting the front of the couch toward the ceiling, Ross, Rachel and Chandler would have been able to clear then column and move it into the apartment.

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‘The One with the Cop’ is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of Friends, which aired on NBC on February 25, 1999.

During this episode, Ross, played by David Schwimmer, is moving a couch into his new apartment and enlists Chandler, played by Mathew Perry, and Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston, to lend a hand.

While attempting to move the couch around a corner, Ross famously shouted ‘Pivot,’ which is still an iconic moment 21 years later.

However, the trio was unable to move it passed the barrier and instead had to cut it in half.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lretbCZpv-c%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1

During this episode, Ross, played by David Schwimmer (left), is moving a couch into his new apartment and enlists Chandler, played by Mathew Perry, and Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston (right)

Here the length of the couch vertically would be less than horizontally, allowing the crew to successfully pivot the piece of furniture around the corner.

And then they could have positioned to its original vertical position once the corner was cleared – allowing them to easily carry the sofa into Ross’s apartment.

Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom Director added: ‘We know moving new furniture into a flat can be challenging. Ross isn’t the only one to end up with his couch stuck in a stairwell or corridor.

‘Although the research contains some headache-inducing math, the solution for Ross is pretty simple: ‘pivot’ and ’tilt’ – and take a little time to measure up before you buy any furniture. That, or, hire in the professionals!’

Although this episode aired 21 years ago, Friends fans will have another chance to see their favorite characters take the stage once again Thursday night during a reunion show.

Friends is arguably one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, running for 10 seasons and 235 episodes from 1994 to 2004.

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