The Big Bang Theory: Is Leonard More Intelligent Than Sheldon?

On "The Big Bang Theory," apartment 4A's residents, theoretical physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and experimental physicist Dr. Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), are among the best and brightest CalTech staff members. The two love nothing more than jotting down equations on large whiteboards. (Talking about their devotion to "Star Trek" characters, specifically Mr. Spock, comes a close second.) 

Now, fans typically view Sheldon as the brighter one of the roommates, even though Leonard has produced sound theories, some of which Sheldon has mildly praised — which is saying a lot. Sheldon, a Texas native, obtained a Doctorate in Physics before he turned 17 and is eventually named a Nobel Prize laureate. However, some incidences on the CBS sitcom suggest Leonard can get the better of his particular roommate from an intellectual standpoint. 

Let's be like Sheldon and the Princeton alum and look at data before drawing conclusions about which scientist is more brilliant.

Despite his genius, Sheldon has difficulty teaching others about his field. For instance, in Season 3, Episode 10 ("The Gorilla Experiment"), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) seeks out Sheldon to get some insight into the testing that occurs in Leonard's CalTech laboratory. During their physics lessons, Sheldon seems to have little patience for Penny, upsetting her. His behavior toward the actress suggests Sheldon cannot concisely explain physics to someone who does not already have some comprehension of the field. 

In addition, during Season 4, Episode 14 ("The Thespian Catalyst"), graduate students heavily criticize Sheldon's teaching style, which can be best described as equal parts dull and rude. When he discovers he is ill-equipped to teach his beloved subject, he becomes rattled. "I don't want to teach those poopy-heads anyway!" exclaims Sheldon. Meanwhile, Leonard appears decent at relating scientific information to Penny, as seen in Season 6, Episode 5 ("The Holographic Excitation"). Of course, Penny may be more willing to absorb information as she is overcome with desire inside the CalTech laboratory.

It should also be noted that Sheldon successfully informs Leonard about the rules of football in Season 3, Episode 6 ("The Cornhusker Vortex"). Arguably, Sheldon is a better teacher when he believes the subject matter is trivial.

Sheldon, who is not one for doling out praise, occasionally respects Leonard's scientific and technological pursuits. In Season 4, Episode 12 ("The Bus Pants Utilization"), Sheldon admits his intrigue after Leonard reveals he brainstormed an innovative app. "I checked the app store. No one is doing handwriting recognition differential equation solving," says Leonard. However, Sheldon soon reveals he is disappointed by the platform's potential interface. Despite Leonard removing Sheldon from the project, the theoretical physicist spends a significant amount of time attempting to better his roommate's algorithm. 

It seems to be a common theme for Sheldon to refine concepts originated by Leonard. For example, Leonard's supertime theory is commended by Sheldon during Season 8, Episode 14 ("The Troll Manifestation"). The Texas native constructs mathematical proofs, which leads to him authoring a manuscript in mere hours without Leonard's assistance. However, the episode's final scene shows Dr. Stephen Hawking complimenting Leonard's theory, as opposed to the paper as a whole. "The premise is intriguing," says Dr. Hawking. 

Given the evidence above, neither Sheldon nor Leonard has the greater brainpower. In fact, it seems that Sheldon and Leonard are at their best intellectually when they use each other as a sounding board. Although, of course, Sheldon would dismiss the notion entirely. As "The Big Bang Theory” fans are aware, Sheldon finds the suggestion he is not the most gifted member of society almost as egregious as someone taking claim of a particular spot on his beloved leather sofa.