The hidden meaning behind the VANS logo is blowing everyone's mind around the world

The logos of brands are not just random designs or letters. They often have some meaning to it. People were mindblown when they realized the hidden meaning of the Vans logo. Vans is an American brand that manufactures shoes and related apparel. Most people knew the logo as "VANS" written in all caps with a line from "V" going to other letters. It seemed pretty basic until they began to connect the brand to maths. A person on TikTok who goes by @singinggently shared a meme in a video which is captioned, "I was today years old when I realized the VANS logo is the square root of the answer."

The meme comprises pictures of the VANS logo and a calculator next to it showing the square root of the answer (ANS). The response under it says, "Once you see it, you can't unsee it." They are trying to say that V is the square root symbol, which is also called radical and "ANS" is the same equation for the square root of the answer. On a calculator, it comes across as "√ANS." This new meaning of the logo made its way to X. Bruce Edmunds (@bruceedmunds), who tweeted, "Fun Fact: The Vans logo is actually the Square root symbol and the answer button on a scientific calculator. If you enter those you will get 420. You're welcome." "Everybody is just NOW realizing that Vans logo is a math equation," wrote @BakedWarlock. However, the original meme, which is in the TikTok video, was posted back in 2018.

Even though people are amused by this discovery, it might not be intentionally put in there by the brand. According to a blog called Logo My Way, the logo can be traced back to 1966 when the company was founded, reports UNILAD. The original version of the logo was made by the son of one of the brand's founders who wanted to paint it on a skateboard. However, when his dad, James Van Doren, saw it, he decided to use it as a logo on one of the company's shoe designs. That led to the successful manufacturing of skateboarding shoes.

When it comes to images and finding answers, @benonwine on X posted an image and asked people what the numbers they can see within a striped black and grey circle. "Do you see a number? If so, what number?" they asked in a tweet. Thousands of people responded to the questions and it was baffling to see such different replies. @PhilippeAuclair commented, "45 283....and what's the catch? Should I book an appointment with my GP?" "3452839. Strangely, this is also the telephone number of an Islington flat where Arthur Dent went to a fancy dress party and met a very nice young woman whom he blew it with." wrote @cityslueth. @chronicleflask said, "Funnily enough, when I click on reply and it gives me a thumbnail, it's much clearer. Because it’s not moving, I guess? Anyway, 3452839 BUT 528 was clear, 45283 was more visible in some lighting than others, and the 3 & 9 at the ends were hard to see at all."

Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 5, 2024. It has since been updated.