A Problem Squared

💿 What did the first ever podcast sound like?

🗳 How do you REALLY lose an election in the US? 

📰 Business will be closed, and opened.

Thank you to Emily for the Maths mittens! To see pictures of those, head over to APS socials. 

You can see the incredible Agree to Disagree podcast pages from 1999 here:  

https://web.archive.org/web/19990914040650/http://www.thealph.com/agree/

https://web.archive.org/web/19991004035401/http://thealph.com/agree/about.shtml

There is also a file, but we don’t think it contains an...

⭕ Circle Can Tic-Tac-Toe ever be fun? 

🤏What is the smallest Neil called? 

🗞There’s some Any Other Business! 

⚔️Battleships continues.  

If you want to read the works referenced by Matt in his tic-tac-toe / naughts and crosses problem, take a look below: 

Solo Noughts and Crosses, James Grime: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10724117.2023.2168434 Tic-tac-tome, Willy Yoners: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tic-Tac-Autonomous-Playing-Book/dp/1594746877 A Knowledge-based Approach of Connect-Four The Game is Solved: White Wins, Victor Alis: https://disi.unitn.it/~montreso/asd/docs/connect4.pdf  Is ultimate...

🌈 How many colours are really in a rainbow?

🕰 How often is a broken clock is right? 

💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is open. Briefly. 

🏴‍ And we have a NEW POST CREDITS easter egg. 

To hear more about the brilliant and terrible Emily In Paris premier, listen to this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/point-break-pt-1-season-04-episode-01/id1720149980?i=1000666164553

If you want to see where the Mattparker asteroid / minor planet is in the universe, you can locate it on this NASA database: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html...

Where the heck was this week's episode?

Find out, here.

P.S We are sorry.

🎯 What is the optimal layout for a dart board? 

🦈 How soon after a cut does a shark smell your blood? 

📜 And there’s some AYE-YOOO-BEEEE.

To see the Percy Arrangement mentioned by Matt follow this link: https://www.globaldarts.de/globalDartsEN/sport/Percysboard.html

And for the “Optimal Dartboard Design” reveal, see here! https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/api/file/viewByFileId/1980058
If you want to learn more about shark senses, check out Sensory Biologist Dr. Lauren Eve Simonitis‘s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocean...

🧺 Why is the cycle time on my washing machines always wrong?

🪙 How long will it take to sell 400 Lincoln memorial pennies for $20,000? 

🔔 We have DINGS! 

🧳 And the business briefcase is open! 

Disclaimer: You may hear a slight change in tone on Matt's audio at points throughout, that's back up audio which sounds different.

If you want to find out more about the IMO, or International Mathematics Olympics, you can do that here: https://www.imo-official.org/ 

And if you’re in London and you want to experience...

On this episode...

🐍If you pooled up all the snake venom in the world would it be enough to kill all the non-immune mammals?

👢Do dogs have 2 arms? Or do we have 4 legs?

📜And we open the business briefcase. 

If you want to know more about lizard sampling, do that here: ‘Hierarchical distance sampling to estimate population sizes of common lizards across a desert ecoregion’: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.4780

There’s a great video by Technology Connections to turn signals and specifically syncing them up, you can find that he...

🚘 What happens when tires get tired?

🧊 What is the equation for the curve on a spinning Ruibik’s cube?

📜 And there’s some pin related AOB!

Find out more about the counting crows here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0984

You can hear Bec on Ali Plumb’s podcast ‘Screen Time’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r4zfx/episodes/downloads

If you want to learn more about the EMF Festival, follow this link: https://www.emfcamp.org/

To read ‘Where the tire meets the road: Emerging en...

🧗 Is it possible to climb every mountain? 

🌞 Can you simulate an eclipse if you miss the real thing? 

📜 And some loose ends (and change), in AOB! 

If you’d like to enter the very same gravel race as Matt Parker, you can find out more details here: https://sevengravelrace.com/the-race/

You can listen to ‘Climb Any Mountain’ from the Sound of Music soundtrack here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKuqySkqhHw&ab_channel=COSMOTOPPER777

And to watch the 1991 The Shamen hit ‘Move Any Mountain’ referenced by Matt (which we later discovered wa...

🙏 Is this emoji praying hands or a high five? 

🍚 What's the best present for celebrating a billion seconds?

💼 For the first time we have Any Other Business WITH SPECIAL GUESTS!

If you want a collectable (and mistake-ridden) copy of ‘Love Triangle’, with a special, limited edition book cover designed by print-artist Paul Catherall. You'll get one free while stocks last. Head over to MathsGear! https://mathsgear.co.uk/products/love-triangle-by-matt-parker-signed

Here’s some background on the ‘Folded Hands’ emoji mentioned in Bec’s problem: https://blog.emojipedia.org/emojiology-folded-hands/

This is the pixelated...

🪙 How many coins would you need to sort through to collect all commemorative €2 coins in circulation? 

📍How do you display enamel pins?! 

💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is…mostly open. 

Here’s the Coupon Collector’s problem video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BstloCx8KDk

You can see more on the “Number of banknotes/coins returned from circulation in Euro Area, Euro area (changing composition), Monthly” here: https://data.ecb.europa.eu/data/datasets/BKN/BKN.M.U2.RE10.C.20P0.AS.F.E

And, Wiki...

In this episode...

🎂 Where did birthday cake come from? 

🚗 How come my indicator is never in sync with other cars waiting to turn?

💼 And, as always, some business from the business briefcase.

Nina, here’s that recipe for Greek Honey Cake: https://www.food.com/recipe/greek-honey-cake-428671

And for more cake from around the world, look no further than this infographic: https://i.imgur.com/lhhotIE.png

Here’s the Ben Eater video referenced by Matt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRlSFm519Bo

And the fascinatin...

🌒 What’s the best place to see the next solar eclipse? 

💤 Do animals dream? 

💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is…half open. 

Send your problems and solutions to our website: www.aproblemsquared.com.

For a detailed look at the path of the 2026 eclipse, here’s the website referenced by Matt: https://eclipsophile.com/future-eclipses-2024-2028/

If you want to hear the full interview with David Pena Guzman about animal consciousness referenced by Bec, you can do that here: https://news.uchicago.edu/do-an...

🔔🚨This is an emergency broadcast🚨🔔

Unfortunately a bout of sudden food poisoning has got in the way of our latest recording session. Everyone's safe (now) but as you may have noticed, we're missing an episode.

We've now got a new date in the diary but the podcast won't be back for two weeks - sorry about that everyone!

SO in this episode, A Problem Squared presents...

🧙‍♀️ The first EVER episode of bonus podcast I'm A Wizard.

🪄A latter and very silly ep...

In this episode...

🧺 What is lint? 

👌 When does zero count? 

💼 And, as always, some business from the business briefcase. 

Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.

Bec’s got loads of gigs coming up! If you wanna go see her check out dates on her website: https://www.bechillcomedian.com/tour-gigs.

Matt’s also got an Evening of Unnecessary Detail every two weeks at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, London.

There’s going to be a mathssive (get it) Evening of Unn...

In this episode…

🥧 Can Pi ever repeat itself? 

🪜 Is it impossible for cube-based stairs to be identical?

📈 And some Business of an Any Other Nature. 

If you want to see the biggest hand calculation in HISTORY, you can! Just head over to Matt’s YouTube channel on the 14th of March: https://www.youtube.com/@standupmaths

An Evening of Unnecessary Detail is BACK IN NEW YORK! On the 14th of April, at The Bell House in Brooklyn from 7:30pm! 

You can get tickets for that here: https://www.eventbrite.c...

In this episode…

🍼 What’s the best method for naming a human child?

🎊 How do you turn 45^2=2025 into a birthday celebration?

📜 AYE-YOOO-BEEEE.

Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com

Bec’s got loads of gigs coming up! If you wanna go see her check out dates on her website: https://www.bechillcomedian.com/tour-gigs

Matt’s also got an Evening of Unnecessary Detail every two weeks at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, London.

There’s going to be a mathssive (get it...

In this episode…

⤵ Is it faster to drive around Australia in an anticlockwise direction on the inside lane? 

🐉 What were dragonflies called before there were dragons?

💼 Business of an ‘Any Other’ nature.

New segment: Things Matt Needs Help With. If you can help with ANY of Matt’s ideas, get in touch! 

If you’d like to see Matt’s diagrams and GP MOTO plot, head on over to Twitter or Patreon!

The podcast has officially HIT 2 MILLION! Tell us how you think we should celebrate. 

As always you can sen...

In this episode…

🇺🇸 A LAT of LA chat.

⭐️ If you visited each star on the Hollywood Walk of fame in alphabetical order, how far would you have to travel?

📜 And some sort of Any Other Businesses. 

Send us your problems and your solutions to the Problem Posing Page: www.aproblemsquared.com

If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can also find us on Twitter, Instagram, Discord and of course, on Patreon.

In this episode…

🌏 How often do earthquakes take place in the same location, on the same date, in different years? 

🔔 Dingletts, dingletts and more dingletts! 

💨 A fundamental buoyancy error. 

If you want to look into the data Matt used for his earthquake problem, you can find that here: https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-data.

If you want to see the plots Matt mentions, please head on over to ⁠Twitter⁠ or ⁠Patreon⁠. 

Here are Bec's podcast recommendations:

- Science Vs: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs

In this first episode of 2024…

🍝 How long would human spaghetti be?

🏛 Do all roads actually lead to Rome?

📜 We have new old business for a new new year.

P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed.

If you want to go see Matt and Bec in LA get to the Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank on Sunday January 7th at 5pm!

Bec and Matt will put on An Evening of Unnecessary Detail along with a few of their friends as guest acts.

Come and say hi! Matt will s...

In this episode…

🏺 What is the biggest roman numeral word?

🎲 How do I get my friends to play D&D? 

🪵 A Christmas Stumpdate!

💼 And the business briefcase is OPEN.

If you'd like some extra listening over the next few weeks, have a listen to Bec on Dan Schreiber’s podcast ‘We Can Be Weirdos’ you can find the link here: https://tinyurl.com/mrymvb29

And if you'd like to see the Aunty Donna sketch showing how not to explain a table top game to a new player, look no further: http...

On this episode…

🍫 Can you prevent hot chocolate from clumping?

🖊 When is a vowel a vowel? 

👾 We have some Discord news! 

💼 And a small amount of Business, of Any Other nature. 

The holidays have arrived early because, and APS DISCORD IS FINALLY HERE! Head on over using this link: https://discord.gg/pt4WsfhMCY

You too can make your computer talk! Here's a link to the Praat vowel software Matt was using at the start of today’s Dinglet: https://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/

If you’d like to...

In this first episode of 2024…

🍝 How long would human spaghetti be? 

🏛Do all roads actually lead to Rome? 

📜We have new old business for a new new year. 

P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed. 

If you want to go see Matt and Bec in LA get to the Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank on Sunday January 7th at 5pm!

Bec and Matt will put on An Evening of Unnecessary Detail along with a few of their friends as guest acts! 

Come and say hi! Matt will sign y...

In this first episode of 2024…

🍝 How long would human spaghetti be? 

🏛Do all roads actually lead to Rome? 

📜We have new old business for a new new year. 

P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed. 

If you want to go see Matt and Bec in LA get to the Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank on Sunday January 7th at 5pm!

Bec and Matt will put on An Evening of Unnecessary Detail along with a few of their friends as guest acts! 

Come and say hi! Matt will sign y...

In this first episode of 2024…

🍝 How long would human spaghetti be? 

🏛Do all roads actually lead to Rome? 

📜We have new old business for a new new year. 

P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed. 

If you want to go see Matt and Bec in LA get to the Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank on Sunday January 7th at 5pm!

Bec and Matt will put on An Evening of Unnecessary Detail along with a few of their friends as guest acts! 

Come and say hi! Matt will sign y...

In THIS episode…

💨 How low would gravity need to be for farts to lift you off the ground?

👖 Is there a solution to suboptimal trouser pockets?🔔 Ding ding ding!

📜 Business, fresh from the Any Other briefcase.

If you want to participate in a MathsJam near you, you can find your local event right here: https://www.mathsjam.com/

And if you are a child, or an adult who has children who are fans of the show, tell THEM to send in their problems for our kids only episode - coming soon!<...

In this episode... 

🎨 What's the best hypothetical paint set? 

🧊 Can a single turning pattern return a Rubik's cube to where it started? 

🛰 And some Any Orbital Business! 

If you want to weigh in on the Reasonable / Unreasonable debate, and watch Bec in her element painting a wardrobe, follow this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyJwjphMesl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

And if you want to see more from the colour theorist, Peter Donahue, who consulted on Bec's problem, find him on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.pete.rep...

In this episode... 

🃏 Is the probability in a game of snap changed if two packs of cards are used? 

🧟 Can zombies ride bikes? 

🥣 A commemorative plate-bowl update. 

👻 And some Any Other BOoOoOosiness! 

If YOU want this year's APS Christmas card be sure to sign up to the Wizard Level on Patreon by the END OF NOVEMBER. 

You can do that here: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared/membership 

We'll be sharing a link to our new Discord soon. In the meantime, go talk on the APS Reddit: h...

 

In this episode...

📣 Which words sound rude in other languages?

✏️ Which letters go where most often?

🛩 And some any aeroplane-autobahn business!

Tony has give us some fantastic Maths Decor. Platonic Solid doorknobs and how to make them: https://ko-fi.com/s/642d70ef7f

A couple of brilliant listeners gave us some great more information on emergency landings on the Autobahn. You can find links to that here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_strip and here: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notlandeplatz_auf_Stra%C3%9Fe#Autobahn-Behelfslandepl%C3%A4tze.

...

In this episode...   - What is the optimal maths based pattern to decorate a rented home?   - Is it possible to fly a plane on the autobahn?   - And some bloody brilliant Any Other Business   You can find more information about the Art Installation, or Zeitpyramide, Matt references in the catch up here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitpyramide   For more amazing tile patterns, check out Ayliean's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ayliean/video/7276938427071876385   And if you'd like to read the Hat Tile original paper, you can do that here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10798   Here's the APS Reddit: https://www.reddit...

Coming to you AS-LIVE from a tent at The Big Feastival!

In this wet and festivally episode...

- How green is cycling really? 

- An update on Stawberry-gate. 

Again, if anyone has any information about the Time Fun jumper, please do send it to the Problem Posing Page! Check out our social media to see it if you haven't already. 

And finally, please send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com.

IF you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter,  Instagram. and Patr...

In this episode…

🙏 How often do the hands of time align?

📜What is the longest one syllable word?

💼And a very large serving of AAAOOOBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

After such glowing recommendations, you’ve got to go listen to Confidence Man: https://www.confidenceman.com.au/

Here’s Bec’s contribution to the Samaritvans exhibit: https://shop.sarahgraham.info/products/samarivan-bec-hill.  

If you find yourself in Hitchen between the 22nd - 29th September 2023, go see the exhibit for real, at Arkley Fine Art on Hermitage Rd. 

More about Arkley here: https...

In this slightly sports adjacent episode...

🍓 Are there more strawberries or old men on earth? 

⚽️ Is Melbourne Rectangular Stadium more or less rectangular than the average football stadium?

🏆 Did Austrailia beat Denmark at the Women's World Cup? Find out here! 

🖇 And a healthy dose of Any Other Business. 

 

You can watch Bec's striker skills in action on CBBC's Saturday Mash Up, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001pnkl/saturday-mashup-live-series-6-episode-6

Here is a link to WayBackMachine used by Bec to research her problem: https...

This is a single problem, AOB-less and DIY episode...what could be more New York?

🏟 Baseball fun in New York City!

📍 How central is Central Park really?

📜 Vibe for this episode: "It's real man"

A NOTE TO ALL LISTENERS: Please be aware that audio quality may not be what you're used to. This episode deviates from the usual format. The structure heard here is what we like to call: Freeform. 

We've put a map of Manhattan on Twitter if you want to have a look at that as you listen!

In this episode...

👾 What is the best way to win at Tetris? 

🍫 Revisited: Have all the candy bars been invented? 

📜 And some AOOOOOOOOOB. 

You can find the Bonham's Nintendo Gameboy Sale: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19144/lot/250/nintendo-game-boy-flown-in-space/ 

Check out the rest of the sale too...it's pretty cool: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19144/the-space-history-sale/

Evidence of the Beng-Beng Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Crispy Wafer bar: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203119821326

As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com.

And if you want...

In THIS episode...

🔲 Is it possible to make a magic square of magic squares where each cell is the magic constant of another magic square?

📜 Bec becomes a document detective!

🚨 It's a New York Alert

💼 What's in the briefcase today?

❓AND a big muppet reveal.

You can find the Magic Square of Magic Squares here (It's the second one on the page): https://inderjtaneja.com/2022/02/10/100-magic-squares-of-order-42-with-numbers-00-99/

Here's the original Numperphile video 'Magic Squares of Squares (are PROBABLY impossible)': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdsj84...

In THIS episode:

🍦 Can you lose weight with a diet of ice cream and beer?

🍔 What's up with Burger Rings? 

🛎 DING! DING! DING! DING!

💼 And some A-OHHHHH-B.

Here's the Burger Rings 1992 ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo5sKqwUQBs 

Here's the ACTUAL packet, as remembered by Matt and Bec: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fordsbasement/7183508658#

As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com.

If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are (who doesn't, right?) you can skip ahead of...

On THIS episode...

🌍 Where should Earth be? 

🛗 What's the best way to spend one minute in a lift? 

♾ Why are there different sizes of infinity? 

💼 And, business. Any other. 

Send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com.

If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are (who doesn't, right?) you can skip ahead of Matt and Bec to do the quiz here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you.

And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter,  Instagram. and Patreon. 

In this episode...   🎧 How do you stop the wires on headphones from twisting?   🏊🏽‍♀️ If the Earth was a smooth sphere, how much water would sit on it's surface?   🛎 Get ready for some dings!   💼 And the business briefcase is open.   If you'd like to find out exactly why our pockets twist up our wires, follow this link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-do-your-earphones-get-tangled-in-your-pocket-science-has-the-answer-9548540.html   For more on the spontaneous knotting of an agitated string, look no further: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0611320104#sec-2   To really comprehend the over under technique you have to see it, and even then it's tri

In THIS episode...   🌝 Is the diameter of the sun and the moon the spookiest of coincidences?   🍫 Where on earth are the new candy bars?!   📈 What's in the Business Briefcase today?   Here's the incredible bath related research conducted and compiled by David, go take a look it's fantastic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/89sp8ekvx2d13m7/Bath_Gustavsson.pdf?dl=0

And Tin's code with Matt's favourite plot, you can find that here: https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https://github.com/tinnuadan/PipingHotBath/blob/main/becbath.html

If you'd like to see Matt and Bec in New York for an Evening of Un...

In THIS episode...   🎶 What's the time signature of the Bluey theme tune?   🔐 How can you get the security tag off an item of clothing at home?   🐹 The first answer to the first A Peanut Squared.   🗂 And some Any Other Business.   If you'd like to visit or participate in the Polyplane exhibition at Rutgers University, find out more on their website here: http://polyplane.org.   You can watch Adam Neely expand on Bec's answer for irregular time signatures here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KCpJx_2K_g.   ***Merch Competition UPDATE: DO NOT SEND YOUR PREFEREN

In THIS episode...

* Matt has found the last number.

* How do you determine which day of the week a given date falls on if you know the day of another date?

* And some other international business.

If you'd like to see Bec and Matt at An Evening of Unnecessary Detail IN NEW YORK, get tickets here: https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/show/an-evening-of-unnecessary-detail/

This is your 10 day call, this link closes on the 20th of April! -- Roll up! roll up! The limited edition Millionth Download Commemorative Plates and / or Bowls...

In THIS episode...

🐹 A Peanut Squared! 

📇 How many words neatly shorten to letter-name versions? 

🔥 Was Michael Jackson's hair catching fire in a Pepsi ad the exact mid-point of his life?

💼 And some Other Business. 

Roll up! roll up! The limited edition Millionth Episode Commemorative Plates and / or Bowls have arrived. You can PRE-ORDER them here:

Plate: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=y696c5w Bowl: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=wzv5cew

If you want to see the full Two Ronnies 'Swedish Made S...

In this episode...

🚍 What’s the probability that you get on a bus and see a colleague who's travelling to the same house as you?

🧽 Can I use a single cheap soap to clean absolutely everything?

✨ And, coincidences. Lots of them.

If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.

You can get your DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com.

If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out h...

In this episode...

Can a spoon keep open champagne fizzy?

Are two minimalist rulers more effective than one 30cm ruler?

There's some Any Other Bubbness. 

And, you're cordially invited to the Royal Society!

If you'd like to watch Matt on a very fast motorbike, have a look at this! You can find 'Rapid Motion Through Space: An Incomplete History of Speed' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYDdHSXRQro&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmicshambles.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title&themeRefresh=1   We want YOU for the...

In this episode...   🪨 Which human names are the least elemental?   🕰️ Why do clocks run clockwise?   🧳 Some news from the business briefcase!   🪵 And an even NEWER stumpdate.   If you'd like to know how to bring plants and more specifically, your stumps, into the UK without an infestation of termites, have a look how, here: https:

In this episode...

🛀 How do you keep a bath warmer for longer?

💼 Matt solves a problem about business.

🗞️ We have some AOB.

🪵 And a brand new stumpdate!

If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.

You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com.

And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In THIS very meta episode...

* Did Matt forecast a million downloads correctly? 

* When should your toothpaste be wet?

* And there's some Any Other Sizeness. 

You can find 'Fibonacci New Year' from @ayliean on Tiktok right here:  https://www.tiktok.com/@ayliean/video/7183451455569923355.

You can also find her on Twitter! 

And if you want to listen to Bec officially beef with Joel & John of The Deam Factory, you can do that here: https://shows.acast.com/dreamfactory/episodes/who-brings-a-ball-to-war-ft-bec-hill

If you've got a problem or a solu...

In this BRAND NEW and Perth based episode...   * Which Perth is the best Perth?   * If you scale human DNA to match the DNA tower in Kings Park could you reach the ISS?   * And, Bec and Matt present: Any Other Beersness!   If you want to see more from this week's episode, check out Twitter for social links and images!    As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.   You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com.   And if you want even more from A Problem Squared

In THIS episode: 

* How do you get a billion dollars on GTA 5 as fast as possible?

* What are some sneaky but effective ways to measure a ring finger?

* And some ANY OTHER BUSINESSSS!

The three norths are aligned! Here's a map of the North by North North tour: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/newsroom/blog/magnetic-true-grid-north-align-over-great-britain

You can find 'band merch' by Matt for that here: https://standupmaths.teemill.com/collection/north-north-north/

If you want to see more from DarkViperAU you can do that here: https://www.y...

In this episode...

How do we repurpose a satellite dish? How does Matt do his calculations so quickly? And some any other bugness!

IF you want an A Problem Squared Christmas card, do become a Patreon! If you're ALREADY a Patreon, make sure you've given us your postal address. 

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. AND if you've got a Perth related problem for our 050th episode send them in! 

You can buy A Problem Squared merch here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.co...

047 = If Bees Flew Your Weight and Honey Use-By Date

In this episode...

How many bees would it take to lift a person? Does honey really have an infinite shelf life?  Anddd some any other beesness!  As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. You can buy A Problem Squared merch here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In THIS episode...   * What is the most interesting way to store books? * How many years would you need to play the lottery to reach a net positive?  * A-to-the-O-to-the-B   If you want to listen to Bec’s BBC podcast, 'Elon Musk vs Twitter' you can do that here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0d7q0h8   Check out the cool people Bec and Matt played pool with: ‘Average Pool Player’ Rollie Williams: https://www.youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams   Jennifer Baretta. Here’s Rollie + Jennifer together! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C40fkp0ReDc&ab_channel=KAMUIBRAND   Grant Sanderson, of...

In THIS episode...

* Can we increase the chance of catching the subway by walking to the nearest stop in the direction of travel? 

* How long is a New York Minute, really?

* And some serious jet lag. 

Thank you to everyone who sent in New York related questions! If you want to read more about Todd W. Schneider, you can find them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/todd_schneider

Here is the code and wait times graph referenced in Matt's problem: https://toddwschneider.com/posts/nyc-subway-data-analysis/ 

And the...

In THIS episode...

* Which utility would be most useful on a utility belt? 

* How fast is the speed of smell?

* Matt comes one step closer to finding his stairs. 

* And, when does a plate become a bowl...decided?

IF you want to look as cool as Bec and Matt (and who doesn't) head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com for merch. 

The book Bec mentions in her problem is called 'End State: 9 Ways Society Is Broken & How We Fix It' by James Plunkett. 

If you...

In this episode...

* We run the numbers on the 2002 hit song 'Year 3000'

* Why do all humans have nipples?

* And, A Problem Squared goes to New York City! 

If you happen to be in New York City at 4pm on Saturday the 8th of October, Matt will be performing with A Podcast of Unnecessary Detail. That's at Caveat Comedy Club in Manhattan! 

You can find tickets for that, here: https://caveat.nyc/events/aeoud-10-8-2022 

Please send your New York related problems to the Problem Solving Page...

In this episode...

* When does a plate become a bowl?

* And, five five-letter words with twenty-five unique letters: Some mind-blowing solutions. 

Juat a reminder that you can now buy APS merch! Head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com.

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.

And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode...

* How do you stop a wobbly table from wobbling? 

* Which is more effective for your dental hygiene: a toothbrush without toothpaste or toothpaste without a toothbrush? 

* A-to-the-O-to-the-B. 

* Plus! Some exciting merch news. 

If you want to see more of Matt's wobbly tables on ridiculous maths surfaces, you can do that here: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0511490.

For the best system for teeth brushing and more tips on dental hygiene have a listen to ‘APS 03 - Teeth Tips and Defining Decades’ https://aproblemsquared.libsyn.com/aps-003...

In THIS episode...

* What's the most appropriate gift for a couple’s -1 year anniversary?

* How do you write a podcast review without Apple podcasts?

* And Bec and Matt return to rather a lot of AOB.

We would like to thank shittyflute on YouTube for letting us use their rendition of the A-Team theme tune. You can find more tunes you love, badly played here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMmLi8z1HbyhTEvfBgXpyg

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website ap...

In this very special episode, live from Blue Dot Festival...   * How many astronauts does it take to change a light bulb?   * What is the most environmentally friendly way to launch an object into space?   * And APS are live for the first time at Blue Dot Festival!    A huge thank you all the contributors that helped make this episode happen;   To Professor Steven Lockley from Harvard. You can find more about his contributions to sleep in space here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576512001336   If you want to find out about Circadian Rhythms on Earth, have a listen to Epis...

In this episode...   * Can you guess 5 unique words with unique letters in Wordle?   * How do you get out of your head and into the scene in improv?   * And any other Cheesness.   Here's the dictionary text file Matt started with for his problem. It contains 370,000 words: https://github.com/dwyl/english-words

In this episode...   * When does a high five become a low five?   * What is the most efficient digital display?   * And, some any other beesness   Just 18 more sleeps until APS is LIVE at Bluedot - that's between 19:45 - 20:45 on Friday the 22nd July.   Please send in your Bluedot specific questions to the Problem Solving Page including the phrase 'Bluedot'.   You can do this on Twitter too, but it might get lost!   A big shout out to Mr Thing, just because they are fantastic. You can find them on Twitter: @wearemrthing or on their website here: https://www.wearething.co.uk/.   You can also...

In this episode:  Can you create an order from a numbered menu that is always comprehensible to the server? When someone is behind you as you open a door, what is the polite distance to wait for them?  And, the cards are on the table.  As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.    Please send in your Blue Dot problems, and we may just solve it live on stage. Just post your problem with the tag 'Blue Dot' to aproblemsquared.com - Do it now!   If you want to come and se...

In THIS episode...   * How long would it take us to eat the moon if it was made of cheese?   * If you shot and dropped a bullet at exactly the same time, they would hit the ground simultaneously?   * And Bec and Matt give thanks.   As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode...   * How related are you to a Harbour seal?    * Bec gives some novel advice.    * Matt mends a mistake.    * And there's all sorts of AOB.    If you want to bid on the £5,000 t-shirt referenced in 006 of A Problem Squared, join us on the 26th of May, 2022! All proceeds go to Water Aid - links to come.    Bec's new book 'Now LiveScreaming' is out now! Go buy it!   You can find Yale's incredible evolutionary and ecological chat here: https://vertlife.org/

In this episode:   * Can you alter the smell of your farts based on what you eat?   * When does a computer become a supercomputer?   * And, Any AOB!   A huge thank you to Dr Jess Biesiekierski, you can find them at @jessbersa and @monashnutrition on Twitter, Dr Dr CK Yao, find them at @yao_ck on Twitter and of course, Gareth Turkington , @G_Turkington on Twitter, @gareth.turkington on Insta, who created, sung and recorded the fantastic “Fart Life”.   If you want to find out more about pop-off related research referenced by Dr Jess, Dr CK and Bec, please have a look at the pap...

On this episode...   * How many molehills would you need to make a mountain out of them?    * How do you find friends?   * Matt revisits some mistaken maths.    Don't forget to send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com.   And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode...   * Why are aspect ratios so whack?    * How many phone numbers actually exist?    * Wheels or Doors: Revisited.    * And, closure on A Pudding Squared.   A big thank you to Tom Salinsky for helping with this week's problem. You can find more from him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomsalinsky?lang=en and his podcast, Best Pick Pod, here: https://twitter.com/bestpickpod?lang=en   If you want to see Matt, Bec AND Lucie at the belated and brilliant Nine Carols variety show on the 16th and 17th of April, you can book tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on...

In this episode...   * What are the odds of having the same child twice?   * Wheels or Doors?   * And Bec recommends some new nerdy podcasts!    Don't forget too send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live!    And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com.   And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram

Happy Pi Day 2022! 

In this episode...

* Which edible products have protected names?

* How much tax paid by a civil servant would pass into their own salary?

* And of course. We have AOB-B-B-b-b-b.... 

To watch a crack team of 30 calculate 11 digits of Pi by hand, head over to Stand-up Maths on YouTube.  

If you want a qualification of your own, why not take the Food Standards Agency Food Labelling e-course here, or if you'd rather do something else instead, just ask Bec for the source elements. 

Get your Blue...

In this episode...

* Could a GPS sat nav work on the moon? 

* A Pudding Squared returns.  

* An APS announcement.

* AND format news! 

If you have any memory of how 'Is This Your Card' started please (please) let us know. 

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com.

And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode...   * How do you reuse an old radiotherapy mask?   * What is the optimal way to utilise postcodes in Scrabble?   * And, the results of our 2021 listener survey are in.    For more on radiotherapy masks, head on over to Macmillan. And do check out the Bravery Unmasked project for some truly incredible mask transformations.   If you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.   And as always, if you've

APS 026 is here, and it's the last of the year! In this episode...

* How fast could a team of penguins complete a 4 x 100 relay race?

* How can you fix your sleeping schedule?

* And, AOB - lot's of it!

As ever, we value your thoughts on A Problem Squared so head on over to: www.thatsurvey.ilikeit.aproblemsquared.com and give us some feedback!      You can learn more about circadian rhythms here: https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx   How to change them, here: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/can-you-change-your-circadian-rhythm    Some t...

In this month's episode Bec finds out how many Beck's beers would fit in Bec Hill. And Matt investigates how much he'd  have in Euros, if every person gave him 1 in their local currency. 

Plus! A ding is given, and Matt goes to Antarctica.

A big thank you to Adam Kay, Doctor Xand and sword swallowers Snookie Mono and Snake Fervor for their help with this episode. 

As always, send your problems to www.aproblemsquared.com, EXCEPT if it's related to Antarctica, in which case, ask on Twitter: @AProblemSquared. 

APS 024 is out now! 

And it's a spooky October edition! In this episode...

* What's the largest hole that can be carved in a pumpkin without the pumpkin collapsing?   

* How do you stop noisy ghosts rattling doors when you're trying to sleep?  

* And, Cupboard of Nupboard: The people have spoken!

Yes, that's right. The Weight of Words and Graphene for Turds.

In this month's episode...

If graphene was rolled to the size of a loo roll, how long would that roll be?

What is the weight of the ink in Bec's book?

Plus! The REAL answer to Earth's longest line of sight.

And, Bec and Matt are reunited after two years apart.

If you want want EVEN MORE from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram or Patreon.

And as always, if you've got...

What's the best way to stay inspired when writing?

Where on earth can you look the furthest away at something else, that is also on the earth?

When eating cereal, what is the milk? Sauce, broth, jus or something else?

Plus! Repurposing crushed bike helmets: Can you, should you? 

This is Inharmonics and Skin-harm-tonics!

In this month's episode...

How well can the human voice mimic a dinging bell? Bec teams up with a multi-vocalist Beardyman to tackle this one!

What is the optimal use of sunscreen to create a tan and protect your skin?

Plus: The results from Matt's sunny survey are IN and we have updates from episode 020.

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media @AProblemSquared.

If you want...

Score! It's episode 020 of A Problem Squared, Filling Up and Falling Down!    

In this episode...  

Can we solve global warming by diluting the atmosphere? What's the funniest way to fall down without hurting yourself?  Plus: The answer to last month's A Pudding Squared, and a final word on Arctic Krill.   

As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media.

You can find Matt's favourite mascot fail here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Zph323Dos

For full (en)clos...

How did a hamster end up in a listener's apartment on the other side of the world?

How many leaves would humans need to photosynthesise all our energy?

Plus, an update on Dish Splatters: Why don't plastic things dry in the dishwasher?

If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media.

It's Pudding, on the 'gram

For Bec's hamster habitat, look no further.

And, welcome to the world of Hamster-tube.

Here are some...

This month, Matt and Bec explore voting systems in elections. Bec wonders what effect it might have to vote for a novelty candidate. And we speak to a special guest who might just know a thing or two about this.

Plus a whole heap of quick-fire problem solving!

Here's the video Matt mentioned that simulates alternate voting systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhO6jfHPFQU&ab_channel=Primer

 

How many Bec Hills could fit in Bexhill?

What species would make the longest queue if you put every individual in a single line?

Plus an update on Bec's coat conundrum!

If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media.

Thanks to www.higherdose.com for providing the sauna blanket for the fluffy jacket problem.

To find out more about Mileva Marić and the campaign to have her contributions recognised, visit www.inspiring-girls.com/ig-blog/marijamilevablog

In this month's episode, Matt investigates what is the optimal way to share biscuits amongst a group, and Bec explores how you can elongate your holiday time using all manner of creative methods.

Plus updates on short shorts and how much Coronavirus is there in the world.

Send your problems at www.aproblemsquared.com

And here's the study Matt referenced about perceptions of Time: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0001295

 

This month Matt and Bec are problem-solving thusly:

Can you cast shadow puppets on the Moon?

Why do champion cyclists wear such short shorts?

Is there such a thing as a lucky person?

Here's a useful graphic of how the Moon orbits Earth https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth

And this is the article referenced by Bec in the show about body hair: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/the-casualties-of-womens-war-on-body-hair/514983/

Send your problems to our new improved website! www.aproblemsquared.com

 

It's the end of year special!

We have an update on the Cheese Cover Up, the results of the listener survey, and a selection of quick-fire new problems to round off 2020. Plus, what on Earth has Matt been doing to his Christmas tree?

Head to @aproblemsquared on Twitter and Instagram to see images of listeners' cheese packaging recommendations, Matt's pie charts, and Bec's framed Christmas card.

 

What's the most cunning way to move furniture on your own?

Thoughtful ideas for Christmas presents

Answers to the riddle of Pudding's Wheel, including a brilliant piece of maths by a listener.

Recipe for microwave fudge:
3 cups of milk or dark chocolate bits (roughly 500g)
1 tin condensed milk
1/4 cup of butter
Step 1. Microwave all ingredients for 3-5mins, stopping to stir occasionally.
Step 2. Grease or line a deep tray/dish with baking paper and pour in the mix.
Step 3. Refrigerate.
Step 4. Once firm, cut into squares.<...

To celebrate 12 episodes we're collecting some data! If you can, fill in the listener survey: http://thatsurvey.ilikeit.aproblemsquared.com

Does this cheese look like it has 41% less packaging? https://www.dropbox.com/s/kuj16lmkgrx8w7i/41cheese.jpeg?dl=0

Here's the wikipedia page we used to make sense of shark teeth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_tooth#/media/File:How_to_count_shark_teeth.png

The Weaire-Phelan structure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaire%E2%80%93Phelan_structure

What a truncated octahedron looks like: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truncated_octahedron<...

How long is a year of A Problem Squared podcasts?

What's the qualification for a room being a room?

Is the famous Ferrero Rocher advert mathematically possible?

You can visit the Crafts Council campaign here: https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/support-us/appeals-and-projects/lets-craft-packs-children

Delve into luxury with the original Ferrero Rocher ad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-nZZkQqTc

The best-known packings of equal circles in a circle http://hydra.nat.uni-magdeburg.de/packing/cci/d1.html

Correction: Bec's episode of Jonathan Ross's Comedy Club...

- How can you keep cool when there's no air conditioning?

- What's the best thing to do with a spare room? (If you're lucky enough to have one, that is.)

- How much would the Big Macadamia Nut be worth if it was an actual nut?

- Why are typewriters mysterious?

Matt's long-awaited topography video, inspired by a problem in the show, is here at last! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtKhbbcc1Rc

You can see the typewriter patent here: https://patents.google.com/patent/US207559A...

- Could pennies make a girlfriend for the Statue of Liberty?
- What's the optimum burger size for your mouth?
- Where is Matt's topography video?

Here's Bec's burger video analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAc2ukZVtdk

And for Bec's 5KTS t-shirt, head here: www.bechillcomedian.com/5kts/square

- Why are kitchen counters one-size-fits-all?
- Are the recorded surface areas of countries 3D?
- Why don't plastic things dry in the dishwasher?

Special thanks to:
Gareth and Kiruna (@garethandkiruna on TikTok and PIrate & Parrot TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHX3-ZTmi60fYtcnO4VOPSQ)
Ed Warner from Motionspot (https://www.motionspot.co.uk/, www.fineandable.co.uk and @themotionspot on social media)

Check out www.podcastsincolor.com for an exhaustive and excellent list of podcast recommendations.

And for Bec's 5KTS t-shirt, head here: www.bechillcomedian.co...

- What is the biggest big thing?
- Is the lottery a good retirement plan?
- Update on the £5,000 t-shirt.
- The taster data has popped.

Support us on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared

Review us on apple podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-problem-squared/id1490290676

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aproblemsquared
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/

This is the bear with very long legs. Very long. Legs.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/people-are-losing-it-over-this-giant-teddy-bear-that-just

Tallest Filing Cabinet on Earth
h...

Support us on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared

Submit your data for our toaster investigation.
http://bit.ly/APS_toasterdata

Mike Hill wrote up his calculations as an official report.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0njel6x5xcg0z5/T-Shirt%20Quest.docx?dl=0

Energy Scavengers: Static Electricity Could Power the World
https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/energy-scavengers-static-electricity-could-power-the-world

International Electrotechnical Commission standards 60065
https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/494

Limmy's channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/LimmyDotComBlog/

Limmys Show: Whats heavier a...

- What went wrong with the audio of episode 003?
- The best place to put a backpack on a crowded train.
- How many Boeing 737s will fit?
- Making a perfect guest bedroom.
- Bonus: Bec has feedback on Matt's rice calculation

Support us on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared

Review us on apple podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-problem-squared/id1490290676

Twiiter: https://twitter.com/aproblemsquared
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/

Listen to the BROKEN version of episode 003 and...

- Why is this episode so late?
- What to take when in hospital quarantine?
- Tips for working at home from two pros.
- Does the exponential maths of viral memes check out?

Get in touch if you'd like to share your working-from-home space. We'd love to see it!

https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/
https://twitter.com/AProblemSquared

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared

- When does the new decade start?
- The best system for brushing teeth.
- How many orders are there for Bec's show?
- Top travel tips.

Get in touch if you have any more travel tips!

https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/
https://twitter.com/AProblemSquared

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared

- How much pizza is too much pizza?
- What is the optimal way to store shirts?
- How should Matt deal with jetlag?

Update from episode 001: someone embroidered their shoes!
http://twitter.com/AlexRob2001/status/1200926733807095809

SHOW 002 LINKS:

Watch Bec on the Jonathan Ross show:
https://youtu.be/1x9dGTSA1-I

The Ri Lectures are on iPlayer now and the Ri channel a month later:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pmbqq
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRoyalInstitution

All...

Problems featured in this episode:

What's the deal with shoe sizes? Buy my body! Re-refridgeration. Nice knick-knacks for nieces.

Bec Hill: http://bechillcomedian.com/
Matt Parker: http://standupmaths.com/

CORRECTIONS:

01:04 Matt says "early adapter" when he means "early adopter". But it could be both. It’s a podcast that changes you.

18:08 Bec says "4" instead of "6". Don't worry: the maths was all ok. Phew.

26:22 Bec says "implicit permission" when she means "explicit permission". She will definitely double check before she repurposes any one else's teeth.