A Problem Squared
Matt Parker and Bec Hill present: A Problem Squared. A podcast dedicated to solving problems of all kinds, such as, "What should I listen to right now?". A Podcast Squared. First one's free. You're welcome.
info_outline
082 = What Is Lint and Zero Hints
03/25/2024
082 = What Is Lint and Zero Hints
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: Bec’s got loads of gigs coming up! If you wanna go see her check out dates on her website: . 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 Unnecessary Detail Extravaganza show at the Bristol Beacon on the 12th March.Find details for those here: . If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can also find us on , , and on .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/30445438
info_outline
079 = Driving Clockwise and Evolving Dragonflies
02/12/2024
079 = Driving Clockwise and Evolving Dragonflies
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 send your problems and your solutions into the Problem Posing Page: . If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can also find us on , , and of course, on .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/29897758
info_outline
078 = Spinal Taps and Star Maps
01/29/2024
078 = Spinal Taps and Star Maps
🇺🇸 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: If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can also find us on , , and of course, on .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/29684078
info_outline
077 = Earth That Quakes and Quick Fire Takes
01/15/2024
077 = Earth That Quakes and Quick Fire Takes
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: . If you want to see the plots Matt mentions, please head on over to or . Here are Bec's podcast recommendations: - Science Vs: - A Podcast of Unnecessary Detail: - Swindled: - Decoder Ring: - And of course, her own brand new podcast 'Enemy In Paris': As always, send us your general problems and solutions to the website: If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can also find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/29448643
info_outline
076 = Human Pasta and Strada Romana
01/01/2024
076 = Human Pasta and Strada Romana
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. 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 your calculato. Bec will also sign your calculator - right across the top of Matt's signature. If you want to go to that, you can get your tickets here now: As always, send us your general problems and solutions to the website: If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can find us on , , and of course, on . P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed.
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/29286063
info_outline
075 = Roman Recursion and Role-Play Immersion
12/18/2023
075 = Roman Recursion and Role-Play Immersion
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 need 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: If you’ve got any LA based problems, send them in to the Problem Solving Page: We'll be announcing the venue for a Podcast of Unnecessary Detailonce a venue has been found. And if you’d like to receive a belated, but signed Christmas card you can still sign up to Wizard Support on Patreon here: (You’ll get a digital version too!) As always, send us your general problems and solutions to the website: If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can find us on , , and of course, on .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/29096518
info_outline
074 = Chocolate Powder Fails and Consonant/Vowel Details
12/04/2023
074 = Chocolate Powder Fails and Consonant/Vowel Details
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/mYEZR3Hp 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: If you’d like to see the Vowel Space video referenced by Matt follow this link: And for more from linguist and phonetics expert Dr Geoff Lindsay (and with that voice, who wouldn't!) you can do that here: If you know anything about the Apollo 11 flight diagram depicted here: let us know! As always, send us your problems and solutions to the website: If you want more from A Problem Squared, you can find us on , , and of course, on .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28914663
info_outline
073 = Farting Thrust and Pocket Mistrust
11/20/2023
073 = Farting Thrust and Pocket Mistrust
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: 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! Don’t forget to tag the problem with the word ‘Kidition’, it’ll help us find it! If you want to commission a cool bum-bag to support a good cause, Bec mentions Second Stitch Melbourne in her dinglett. You can find a link for them here: Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: If you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , , and of course, .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28719063
info_outline
072 = The Perfect Paint Set and Rubik's Reset
11/06/2023
072 = The Perfect Paint Set and Rubik's Reset
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: If you want to see more from the colour theorist, Peter Donahue, who consulted on Bec's problem, find him on instagram: For Martin Bellander's incredible colour graph, follow this link: Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: . If you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28345514
info_outline
071 = Snap Probability and Zombie Mobility
10/23/2023
071 = Snap Probability and Zombie Mobility
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: We'll be sharing a link to our new Discord soon. In the meantime, go talk on the APS Reddit: As always, pease send your problems and solutions to our website: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28342496
info_outline
070 = Speaking Profanities and Lettered Localities
10/16/2023
070 = Speaking Profanities and Lettered Localities
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: A couple of brilliant listeners gave us some great more information on emergency landings on the Autobahn. You can find links to that here: and here: #Autobahn-Behelfslandepl%C3%A4tze. You can find a selection of highway and Autobahn landings captured on camera here: You can now subscript to I'm A Wizard on Spotify! If you want to do that, here are instructions on how to integrate Patreon on Spotify on the app: More news about the Discord is COMING SOON!
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28320806
info_outline
069 = Tiling Planes and Driving Planes
09/25/2023
069 = Tiling Planes and Driving Planes
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: For more amazing tile patterns, check out Ayliean's TikTok: And if you'd like to read the Hat Tile original paper, you can do that here: Here's the APS Reddit: We'll share our new Discord, which we don't really know how to use yet, once we've got some mods in place so watch this space... As always, pease send your problems and solutions to our website: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28124582
info_outline
068 = Big Feastival and Bike Intervals
09/12/2023
068 = Big Feastival and Bike Intervals
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: . IF you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/28008894
info_outline
067 = Line Times and Wide Words
08/28/2023
067 = Line Times and Wide Words
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: Here’s Bec’s contribution to the Samaritvans exhibit: . 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: . If you want to check out more of Sarah Graham’s work you can do that here: . If anyone has any information about the Time Fun jumper, please do send it to the Problem Posing Page! And finally, please send your problems and solutions to our website: . IF you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27872307
info_outline
066 = Strawberry Yields and Football Fields
08/14/2023
066 = Strawberry Yields and Football Fields
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: Here is a link to WayBackMachine used by Bec to research her problem: If you'd like some fresh insights into the Global Fresh Strawberry Industry, you can find that here (2022 - 2023): If you too want exclusive access to the latest Magic Square breakthroughs follow this link: Here are Ian's joke specifications for fire hoses, adapted from an old set of joke pipe specs dating back to at least the 80s: As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27748320
info_outline
065 = Central Parks and Baseball Larks
07/31/2023
065 = Central Parks and Baseball Larks
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! As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27615240
info_outline
064 = A Tetris Education and Candy Bar Formation
07/17/2023
064 = A Tetris Education and Candy Bar Formation
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: Check out the rest of the sale too...it's pretty cool: Evidence of the Beng-Beng Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Crispy Wafer bar: As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27483429
info_outline
063 = Meta Magic Squares and Fire Hose Care
07/03/2023
063 = Meta Magic Squares and Fire Hose Care
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): Here's the original Numperphile video 'Magic Squares of Squares (are PROBABLY impossible)': The Firehose Specifications Document can be viewed here (It can't be real, right?): Now you know, which muppets Bec and Matt are - tell us, which Muppet are YOU? And send in your CONEY ISLAND related problems to the Problem Posing Page: or on social media @aproblemsquared. If you want to sponsor the podcast, head on over to our Patreon page. You can can find that here:
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27353631
info_outline
062 = The Ice Cream Hack and Burger Rings Packs
06/19/2023
062 = The Ice Cream Hack and Burger Rings Packs
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: Here's the ACTUAL packet, as remembered by Matt and Bec: # As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: . 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: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27188331
info_outline
061 = Shifting Dates and Lifting Waits
06/05/2023
061 = Shifting Dates and Lifting Waits
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: . 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: . And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on , and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/27040452
info_outline
060 = Cables Coiled and Water World
05/22/2023
060 = Cables Coiled and Water World
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: For more on the spontaneous knotting of an agitated string, look no further: To really comprehend the over under technique you have to see it, and even then it's tricky. You can attempt to find out how to do that, here: The Merch Competition is ongoing, so send in your sizes for those T-Shirts! And phone it in if you want THE HAT! Put your down preferences HERE: If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are, you can speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . As always send your problems and solutions to our website: . And, finally, if you want EVEN MORE from A Problem Squared, find us on , or .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26847261
info_outline
059 = Concealing Stars and Conceiving Bars
05/08/2023
059 = Concealing Stars and Conceiving Bars
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: And Tin's code with Matt's favourite plot, you can find that here: If you'd like to see Matt and Bec in New York for an Evening of Unnecessary Detail you can still buy STANDING tickets here for $20: Merch Competition: Send in your sizes for those T-Shirts! And phone it in if you want THE HAT! Put your down preferences HERE: If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . Send your problems, solutions and t-shirt specifications to our website: . And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26772909
info_outline
058 = Bluey's Beats and Undies Cheats
04/24/2023
058 = Bluey's Beats and Undies Cheats
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: You can watch Adam Neely expand on Bec's answer for irregular time signatures here: ***Merch Competition UPDATE: DO NOT SEND YOUR PREFERENCES TO THE PROBLEM POSING PAGE!*** Send in your sizes for those T-Shirts! And phone it in if you want THE HAT! Put your down preferences HERE: And finally if you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . Send your problems, solutions and t-shirt specifications to our website: . And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26626656
info_outline
057 = Factorial Calculations and Optimal Celebrations
04/10/2023
057 = Factorial Calculations and Optimal Celebrations
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: 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 are here. You can ORDER them here: Plate: Bowl: If you want to find out more about the Solar Eclipse Matt's going to see in Aus, do that here: . Matt explains this tweet to Bec in our first problem: And here is the offending, and very funny, website they reference - Visual Fractions: If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . Send your problems and solutions to our website: . And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26494305
info_outline
056 = LTRL Words and Half-Life Burns
03/27/2023
056 = LTRL Words and Half-Life Burns
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: Bowl: If you want to see the full Two Ronnies 'Swedish Made Simple' sketch, you can find that here: So you're 18+ and want to see Micheal Jackson's hair on fire in diorama form. Good news! You can do that on Bobby Fingers Youtube, right here: Matt's video 'Was Michael Jackson's hair catching fire in a Pepsi ad the exact mid-point of his life?' can be found here: And we welcome PEANUT to the APS family. The very first A Peanut Squared problem is - If peanut needs to eat 5 g of pellets every day, and hamsters live for two years, how many grams of pellets is Bec going to need over Peanut’s lifetime? You can also get your DING' t-shirts here If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . If YOU'VE got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website . And, finally, if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26342658
info_outline
055 = Bristol Bus Buds and Generic Soap Suds
03/14/2023
055 = Bristol Bus Buds and Generic Soap Suds
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 . You can get your DING' t-shirts here If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26225604
info_outline
054 = Sparkling Wines and Marking Lines
02/27/2023
054 = Sparkling Wines and Marking Lines
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: We want YOU for the 2022 Zeeman presentation! Come cheer on Matt getting his award at Royal Academy in London on the 22nd of March: 'Can we get a DING!?' You can find details on how to attend that here: If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website . You can get your DING' t-shirts here If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/26056662
info_outline
053 = Elementary Monikers and Rotatory Chronikers
02/13/2023
053 = Elementary Monikers and Rotatory Chronikers
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: Here are the free IMBD data sets used by Matt in his problem: And if you'd like to find out which Muppet you definitely are you can speed ahead of Matt and Bec, and find that out here: If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website . You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/25913316
info_outline
052 = Piping Hot Baths and Predicting With Graphs
02/06/2023
052 = Piping Hot Baths and Predicting With Graphs
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 . You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/25843539
info_outline
051 = Have We Hit 1 Mil Yet and Should Yer Toothbrush Feel Wet?
01/16/2023
051 = Have We Hit 1 Mil Yet and Should Yer Toothbrush Feel Wet?
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: You can also find her on ! And if you want to listen to Bec officially beef with Joel & John of The Deam Factory, you can do that here: If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website . You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here And of course, if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on and .
/episode/index/show/aproblemsquared/id/25617036