A Problem Squared
- Episódios
- 151
- Publicação
- quinzenal
- Último episódio
- 9 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
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. Episodes released twokly on Mondays.
Episódios 151
147 = Displaying the Time Pleasingly and Directing a Line North-Easterly
⌚ What time on a digital clock is most pleasing to the eye?🌍 If you start at the equator, and travel north-east, will you ever hit the north pole?🎆 And we have some Any Other (Novem)BernessWe have a bumper …
Notas do episódio
⌚ What time on a digital clock is most pleasing to the eye?
🌍 If you start at the equator, and travel north-east, will you ever hit the north pole?
🎆 And we have some Any Other (Novem)Berness
We have a bumper catch-up chat about the madness that was Matt’s filming of Getting Triggy With It Live. If you want to see the chaotic-mega-cut then the remaining Custom USB Sticks from the Kickstarter will be available to buy soon. You can bet that we’ll link to them here and on socials once they are available.
Some further reading about the UN’s new map projection: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/09/1168284
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
146 = Five-ish or Four-ish and Have Tank But No Fish
🟰 How do you round 0.44999999... to 1 decimal place?🐟 What creative things can be done with a fish tank that has no fish?🍂 And we have some Autumnal Other BusinessHead to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see …
Notas do episódio
🟰 How do you round 0.44999999... to 1 decimal place?
🐟 What creative things can be done with a fish tank that has no fish?
🍂 And we have some Autumnal Other Business
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see some platonic solids for platonic friends, some gorgeous Welsh scenery, some diorama inspo, some toilet wine and a really old maths book.
BBC Archive: The Street With Confounding House Numbers from 1961 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr6Gxb97W_c
How the Japanese house numbering system works…
https://geoawesome.com/how-the-crazy-japanese-addressing-system-works-explained/
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
145 = Trousers & Socks and Heaviest Blocks
🧦 Do you put your trousers or socks on first ?👖🎲 How much would a standard pair of dice weigh if they were made up of just protons and neutrons? 🎲🏉 And we have some Australian Ozzie Ballness that may or may not …
Notas do episódio
🧦 Do you put your trousers or socks on first ?👖
🎲 How much would a standard pair of dice weigh if they were made up of just protons and neutrons? 🎲
🏉 And we have some Australian Ozzie Ballness that may or may not be in the right order.
Thank you to everyone who responded to our questionnaire about number and clothing ordering! All the results are in this episode.
What would happen if a tablespoonful of a neutron star was brought to Earth? https://www.astronomy.com/science/what-would-happen-if-tablespoonful-neutron-star-was-brought-to-earth/
Take a trip back in time to see Matt putting both his socks on simultaneously: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs7fg27Iiq8
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
144 = Numbering Tomfoolery and Number-Based Jewellery
#️⃣ How wrong can a sequence of numbers be?👂 What maths-related diagrams that would look good as a pair of earrings?☕ And we have some Any Other Baristaness Here is our dual-purpose Google Form - please answer …
Notas do episódio
#️⃣ How wrong can a sequence of numbers be?
👂 What maths-related diagrams that would look good as a pair of earrings?
☕ And we have some Any Other Baristaness
Here is our dual-purpose Google Form - please answer our questions about number and clothing ordering! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tTb398TTacxoqlqJHGonkldwDsqnnMN6V4fRagfPOEI/
Behold the weird balls! Here is Thomas Fernique’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fernik_art/p/DcVerFCDiwr/
And head to our Instagram to see Matt looking really happy with a weird football and Bec looking really sad with a weird football.
Some visuals to inspire designs for duallery - Brown University: Dual Shapes: https://www.math.brown.edu/tbanchof/Beyond3d/chapter5/section03.html
Some pre-made mathematical earrings from Maths Gear: https://mathsgear.co.uk/collections/jewellery-etc
Vanessa Schattman on the maths of cat’s cradle:
https://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2026/bridges2026-669.html#gsc.tab=0
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
143 = What Comes After Thrice and Coffee Roulette Advice
📖 What comes after thrice?☕ How can I increase my chances of winning a free coffee?🎹 And we have some Any Other Beatness Thank you to everyone who sent in audio or visuals of the Thue-Morse pattern!Here is …
Notas do episódio
📖 What comes after thrice?
☕ How can I increase my chances of winning a free coffee?
🎹 And we have some Any Other Beatness
Thank you to everyone who sent in audio or visuals of the Thue-Morse pattern!
Here is Damien’s Thue-Morse Visualiser which is really fun to play with: https://damienkee.github.io/thue-morese_visualiser/
And here is the keyboard visualisation of Thue-Morse sonified by Seta Lyas: https://www.reddit.com/r/AProblemSquared/comments/1vl0m8s/140_thuemorse_sonified
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see the full run down of Bec’s post-thrice words.
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
142 = How Long Would YouTube Take to View and How to Display Without Glue or Screws
📺 How long would it take to watch all of YouTube?🪧 How can you make an interesting public display board without damaging the walls?🏖️ And we have Any Other Beachness (it’s a bit windy and a bit crabby)Head to …
Notas do episódio
📺 How long would it take to watch all of YouTube?
🪧 How can you make an interesting public display board without damaging the walls?
🏖️ And we have Any Other Beachness (it’s a bit windy and a bit crabby)
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see Matt and Bec’s differing experiences of the solar eclipse.
Here’s Count Binface and Matt the Count Binface Count Agent getting papped in Clacton: https://tinyurl.com/2h7apka7
And here's Matt's Stand-Up Maths video - Can Count Binface win? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zn1pGRgEoo
If you like the sound of David Elms Describes A Room, you can find out more here: https://www.davidelmsdescribesaroom.com/
Here are the places to go for a deep dive into YouTube Stats:
Counting YouTube Videos via Random Prefix Sampling: https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/2068816.2068851
A Transparent, Replicable, and Large-Scale Census of YouTube Channels and their Subscriber Counts Over Time https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.06999
Do you have a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Tell us about it: https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
141 = What If Peer Was More and What If Pi Was Four?
👬 How do you know if a work-friend is a real-friend?⭕ What would happen if Pi was 4?😴 And we have Any Other Boring-Stories…Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see Bec’s selfies with The Stars of Space …
Notas do episódio
👬 How do you know if a work-friend is a real-friend?
⭕ What would happen if Pi was 4?
😴 And we have Any Other Boring-Stories…
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see Bec’s selfies with The Stars of Space (real and fictional), and the cute-faced Rivian Car.
Why not try Hyperbolic Crochet?!
https://startcrochet.com/ultimate-beginners-guide-to-hyperbolic-crochet/
Why not try a checked 25x25 grid crossword from Sweden?!
https://fatherben.se/wordpress/digitalt-korsord-i-sydsvenskan/
Robert Llewelyn’s YouTube channel - Everything Electric CARS
If you’re at the Edinburgh Fringe and would like to see Bec’s Work In Progress show, tickets are available here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bec-hill-s-work-in-progress
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Want to pose a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Head over to https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
140 = ABBABAAB and AI-Bah!
⚽ What’s the fairest way to pick teams?🤖 How do you discourage colleagues from using AI to write everything?🚗 And this road trip is jeopardised by playing ‘Accelerator or Break?’Thanks to all of you who sent in …
Notas do episódio
⚽ What’s the fairest way to pick teams?
🤖 How do you discourage colleagues from using AI to write everything?
🚗 And this road trip is jeopardised by playing ‘Accelerator or Break?’
Thanks to all of you who sent in answers to “what are you doing while you’re listening to A Problem Squared?” - we go through as many as we possibly can in this episode!
Here is kram1032’s post on Maths Stack Exchange that helped Matt with his problem solving:
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2078609/whats-the-fairest-turn-sequence-for-n-players
Here’s more info on Open Sauce: https://www.opensauce.com/
And here’s a kind stranger’s Insta reel of the Ratatouille robot: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbGwSh4vHQq/
And here’s more info on UKIE: https://ukie.org.uk/
And the stream of Bec hosting the event: https://www.youtube.com/live/4lw_ypXroa4
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see the U-Haul-Truck-Camera photo of Matt.
If you’re at the Edinburgh Fringe and would like to see Bec’s Work In Progress show, tickets are available here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bec-hill-s-work-in-progress
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Want to pose a problem for Bec and Matt to solve? Head over to https://www.aproblemsquared.com/
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
A Problem... Delayed
There's no new episode of A Problem Squared this week - sorry everyone - but we will be back with your scheduled Episode 140 on MONDAY 10TH AUGUST 2026, and our normal twokly service will be resumed from MONDAY …
Notas do episódio
There's no new episode of A Problem Squared this week - sorry everyone - but we will be back with your scheduled Episode 140 on MONDAY 10TH AUGUST 2026, and our normal twokly service will be resumed from MONDAY 17TH AUGUST 2026.
We're delaying one episode by one week due to general busyness and time-zone clashes but rest assured you will be getting your full quota of August episodes of A Problem Squared.
Thank you for your patience!
139 = Music Down Where It’s Wetter and Throwing Darts Better
🎺 What would standard instruments sound like if they were played under water?🎯 What would be the average score of one randomly thrown dart?📂 And there’s some Any Other Business.AOB.zipOn THIS episode of A …
Notas do episódio
🎺 What would standard instruments sound like if they were played under water?
🎯 What would be the average score of one randomly thrown dart?
📂 And there’s some Any Other Business.AOB.zip
On THIS episode of A Problem Squared we’re joined by a special guest! The musical (and regularly quite wet) musical maestro Steve Pretty tells us all about playing music underwater - illustrated with some very bubbly examples. You can hear more from Steve on his podcast Origin Of The Pieces: https://www.originofthepieces.com/ and hear more from Steve playing shells here: https://www.shellectronica.com/
This is the episode of Steve Pretty’s Origin of the Pieces with Richard Sabin, whale expert and lead curator of mammals at the Natural History Museum, who shares sonic insights from the deep. https://www.originofthepieces.com/episodes/episode-31-earwax-echoes-and-entropy
To find out more about Aquasonic, the ethereal underwater quintet, head here: https://www.betweenmusic.dk/aquasonic
Here is the full Hermeto Pascoal video in all its glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZbfNtDCHdM
And here’s the video of a hydraulophone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgU0OZkGhGI
World Darts Federation Playing and Tournament Rules for all the specifications used in Matt’s working out: https://dartswdf.com/storage/uploads/fb05b306-c92c-4f08-b512-affb092a1b3d/2018-02-28_WDF_Playing_and_Tournament_Rules_rev20.pdf
The fabulously detailed Data Genetics blog post on where to aim on a dart board to maximise point-scoring - A Geek Plays Darts: http://www.datagenetics.com/blog/january12012/index.html
Here’s more about the (excellent) book that Bec shouted out: Gemma Correll - Anxietyland https://www.gemmacorrell.com/
If you’d like to see Bec’s Work In Progress shows, her upcoming gigs can be found here: https://www.bechillcomedian.com/tour-gigs
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
138 = Crossword Panels and Crossing Channels
📝 What is the perfect arrangement of black squares in a crossword?🚣 Does weight on an aqueduct increase as a boat goes over it?🛟 And there’s some Any Other Boardness (not ‘boredness’)Head to our …
Notas do episódio
📝 What is the perfect arrangement of black squares in a crossword?
🚣 Does weight on an aqueduct increase as a boat goes over it?
🛟 And there’s some Any Other Boardness (not ‘boredness’)
Head to our BlueSky/Twitter/Instagram to see some crossword arrangements and some cross-bridge arrangements.
Michael Keith’s Crossword research paper: http://www.gathering4gardner.org/g4g16gift/KeithMichael-GiftExchange-CrosswordGrids-G4G16.pdf
Michael Keith’s Pilish book, Not A Wake: https://www.cadaeic.net/notawake.htm
If you’d like to see Bec’s Work In Progress shows, her upcoming gigs can be found here: https://www.bechillcomedian.com/tour-gigs
Matt is bringing An Evening of Unnecessary Detail to New York! The Bell House, Brooklyn on Sunday 12th July. Tickets can be found here:
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/300064B84CCCF567
And Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
137 = Sound Advice and Electron Price
👂Why do some people hate the sound of whispering?💡 How much does an electron cost?😎 And there’s some Any Other BozonessOn THIS episode of A Problem Squared - which comes with our special No Whisper Guarantee …
Notas do episódio
👂Why do some people hate the sound of whispering?
💡 How much does an electron cost?
😎 And there’s some Any Other Bozoness
On THIS episode of A Problem Squared - which comes with our special No Whisper Guarantee - we’re joined by a special guest! The clinical psychologist Dr Jane Gregory tells us all about Misophonia. You can find out about her fantastic (and very helpful) book Sounds Like Misophonia, and you can sign up to her research mailing list here: https://soundslikemisophonia.com/
And here is Ava’s EPIC Spreadsheet - A Problem Squared Episode Catalogue: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nXmEH9BrCr6hEBBhHkfuciPEKimDgZjrwhi2oeyErog/edit?usp=sharing
If you’d like to see Bec’s Work In Progress shows, her upcoming gigs can be found here: https://www.bechillcomedian.com/tour-gigs
Matt is bringing An Evening of Unnecessary Detail to New York! The Bell House, Brooklyn on Sunday 12th July. Tickets can be found here:
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/300064B84CCCF567
And Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
136 = How to Discuss The Number e and When to Disclose the "Real Me"
#️⃣ What’s the best way to explain the number e to an 8-year-old?💗 How early in a relationship should you reveal that you’re a bit weird?🤧 And there’s some any other blow-your-nose-nessHead to our socials to …
Notas do episódio
#️⃣ What’s the best way to explain the number e to an 8-year-old?
💗 How early in a relationship should you reveal that you’re a bit weird?
🤧 And there’s some any other blow-your-nose-ness
Head to our socials to see The Beautiful Old Calculator and The World’s Tallest Comedian.
Matt is bringing An Evening of Unnecessary Detail to New York! The Bell House, Brooklyn on Sunday 12th July. Tickets can be found here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/300064B84CCCF567
Matt has extended his tour - and he’s filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
135 = Pasta Water Solution and QR Code Substitution
🍝 Why do we put salt in pasta water?👾 Can you put bespoke characters in to a QR Code?🌼And Spring Has Sprung (in the UK) so there’s some Any Other BloomsnessHead to our socials to see some …
Notas do episódio
🍝 Why do we put salt in pasta water?
👾 Can you put bespoke characters in to a QR Code?
🌼And Spring Has Sprung (in the UK) so there’s some Any Other Bloomsness
Head to our socials to see some frankly-very-silly-but-fully-operational QR Codes.
Boiling and Freezing Points of Pure and Salty Water https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/1457
Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
134 = Tooth and Rock Day 2026
🤘To mark the May Birthday of Dwayne 'The' 'Tooth Fairy' 'Rock' Johnson, Episode 134 is a Tooth and Rock Special!🪨 Matt answers your rock-based queries and shares a Salt of the Perth update🦷 Bec and Dentist …
Notas do episódio
🤘To mark the May Birthday of Dwayne 'The' 'Tooth Fairy' 'Rock' Johnson, Episode 134 is a Tooth and Rock Special!
🪨 Matt answers your rock-based queries and shares a Salt of the Perth update
🦷 Bec and Dentist Sophie answer your tooth-based queries and shares an Adult Tooth Fairy update
Head to our socials to look at some incredibly detailed Salt of the Perth imagery.
And relatedly…
Lead Explained:
Thallium in Salt Substitutes: A Possible Health Hazard:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0013935177900433
And here’s Matt’s Moving Mountains sources:
https://ourworldindata.org/energy-production-consumption
https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/courses/eosc350/content/foundations/properties/density.htm
Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.133 = Oeuf-Bran Geometry and Huffman Decoder Tree
🥣 What percentage of a box of Weet-Bix is wheat again?🥚 What shape is an egg? 💬 What’s the most efficient way to write your name on a Pop-it Fidget Toy?👎 And would you like some AOB? We won’t take no for an …
Notas do episódio
🥣 What percentage of a box of Weet-Bix is wheat again?
🥚 What shape is an egg?
💬 What’s the most efficient way to write your name on a Pop-it Fidget Toy?
👎 And would you like some AOB? We won’t take no for an answer
Head to our socials to see all the Weet-Bix Pix, lots of names efficiently spelt out on a Pop-It Fidget Toy, lots of Girl Scout cookies, and a sheep being sheared by a robot…
The Sheep’s Back Museum, Naracoorte
https://thesheepsbackmuseum.org.au/
Creation: Between Art and Mathematics Exhibition in Paris: https://www.ihp.fr/en/news-science-and-society/creation-between-art-and-mathematics
Laura Taalman’s Granny Life Crochet:
https://www.grannylifecrochet.com/
Get your own Egg-Shaped Spinning Top:
https://mathsgear.co.uk/products/phitop
Eve’s beautiful cross-stitch:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWY-_qzivz6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
And there is a Kickstarter to fund production of the filmed show, which you can get involved with here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/standupmaths/getting-triggy-with-it
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.132 = Insistuvree and Bix of Weet
🔠 Are there any English words containing four letters in alphabetical order?🥣 What percentage of a box of weet-bix is wheat?🎪 And there is some any other bah-bah-bahbahbahbah-buh-buh-businessHead to our socials …
Notas do episódio
🔠 Are there any English words containing four letters in alphabetical order?
🥣 What percentage of a box of weet-bix is wheat?
🎪 And there is some any other bah-bah-bahbahbahbah-buh-buh-business
Head to our socials to see Bec’s post-show photos and videos from her Adelaide run including Morgan and Morgan's mum’s tooth, Scott and the 6-7 shirt and Karn and his incredible APS Flipchart. You’ll also find Matt’s list of all the 4-letters-alphabetised words and one of the many bridges.
Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
131 = Microwave Conventions and Pythagoral Dimensions
👋 When microwaving food, should you place it in the centre, or off to the side?📐 Does the longest diagonal in a 1m sided cube in 4D square equal root 4? 🐨 And there’s some Bonus Other Business.Head to our …
Notas do episódio
👋 When microwaving food, should you place it in the centre, or off to the side?
📐 Does the longest diagonal in a 1m sided cube in 4D square equal root 4?
🐨 And there’s some Bonus Other Business.
Head to our socials to see Bec’s Photographic Exhibition of Australian Wildlife, Cubie the Moon Rover, Bec’s Poppadom Experiment, Matt’s Pythagorean Whiteboard Action, and the first glimpse of the most confusing game of Connect 4 ever to be played. A surprisingly visual audio podcast… so it’s all happening over on BlueSky / Twitter / Instagram
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.130 = Sly Skittles Claim and Why Sniffles Name?
🌈 Is it true that "No Two Packs Of Skittles Are The Same?”🤧 Why a cold called cold?🤫 And there’s some ASMROBHead to our socials to see Matt’s Mission Patches, Matt’s Calculator, and the Skittles …
Notas do episódio
🌈 Is it true that "No Two Packs Of Skittles Are The Same?”
🤧 Why a cold called cold?
🤫 And there’s some ASMROB
Head to our socials to see Matt’s Mission Patches, Matt’s Calculator, and the Skittles Combinatorics!
The Liberation Laser Software by Seb Lee-Delisle
The Skittle Maths by Clare Wallace
https://www.clarewallace.co.uk/skittles
And some Norfolk Punch, if you’re so inclined
If you’d like to see Matt on tour, all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
129 = People off Ground and Pound for Pound
🛫 How many people are flying in the air at any given moment?⚖️ What weighs a pound and costs a pound?🏈 And there’s some Any Other (Foot)BallnessHead to our socials to see Bec’s glasses 🤓Pat Patriot 🇺🇲and our …
Notas do episódio
🛫 How many people are flying in the air at any given moment?
⚖️ What weighs a pound and costs a pound?
🏈 And there’s some Any Other (Foot)Ballness
Head to our socials to see Bec’s glasses 🤓Pat Patriot 🇺🇲and our Pound for Pound items!
Here is a link to the book Flying With Confidence (which helped Producer Laura with her fear of flying and also helped her answer the problem correctly!)
They Did The Math, They Did The Monster Math on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/
https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemonstermath/
Flight Radar 24: https://www.flightradar24.com/
If you’d like to see Bec at the Adelaide Fringe, you can get tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-creates-the-perfect-show-work-in-progress-af2026
And if you’d like to see Matt on tour, all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard! If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
128 = AMA 2^7 Special
❓ Have you sent in a question for our AMA episode?❔ Have Matt and Bec answered it in this AMA episode?⁉️ Here are your AMA questions, answered!We’ll be back solving your problems as normal in Episode 129!If …
Notas do episódio
❓ Have you sent in a question for our AMA episode?
❔ Have Matt and Bec answered it in this AMA episode?
⁉️ Here are your AMA questions, answered!
We’ll be back solving your problems as normal in Episode 129!
If you’d like to see Bec at the Adelaide Fringe in March, you can get tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-creates-the-perfect-show-work-in-progress-af2026
And if you’d like to see Matt on tour, all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
127 = Labelling Consumables and Conceivable Numerals
🫘 Can we come up with some fun names for common pantry items?🔢 What's the smallest number that has never been written down in human history?🧂 And there’s a sprinkling of Any Other Business.Numberphile’s take on …
Notas do episódio
🫘 Can we come up with some fun names for common pantry items?
🔢 What's the smallest number that has never been written down in human history?
🧂 And there’s a sprinkling of Any Other Business.
Numberphile’s take on a number NOBODY has thought of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdZrxkix9Mk
Every Time "67" Has Been Said on Numberphile, if you dare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlJMJfPPnVA
Googolplex Written Out: http://www.googolplexwrittenout.com/
If you’d like to see Bec at the Adelaide Fringe in March, you can get tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-creates-the-perfect-show-work-in-progress-af2026
And if you’d like to see Matt on tour, all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard! If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.126 = Temperature Levels and Special Vessels
🧊 Why doesn’t the coldest day fall on the shortest day?🥂 If you don’t drink, what can you use fancy drinking glasses for?🏊 And we take the plunge into some Any Other Brrrrrrrness.If you’d like to read about …
Notas do episódio
🧊 Why doesn’t the coldest day fall on the shortest day?
🥂 If you don’t drink, what can you use fancy drinking glasses for?
🏊 And we take the plunge into some Any Other Brrrrrrrness.
If you’d like to read about defibrillator testing using a turkey, here’s the paper sent in by Hans: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12879378/
If you’d like to see Matt and Bec - alongside Steve Mould and Helen Arney and more - at An Evening Of Unnecessary Detail in London on Monday 26th January, you can get tickets here:
https://www.universe.com/events/an-evening-of-unnecessary-detail-tickets-TFK426?ref=ticketmaster
If you’d like to see Bec at the Adelaide Fringe in March, you can get tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-creates-the-perfect-show-work-in-progress-af2026
And if you’d like to see Matt on tour, all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows
If you’d like to ask Matt and Bec anything for our special 2^7 episode in February go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com - select ‘Problem’ and start your message with AMA! Please get your AMA questions in by Friday 23rd January 2026!
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
125 = Toots from Bums and Attitude Sums
💨 How many people are needed to guarantee that there is always someone farting somewhere?🔠 If you match each letter with the corresponding number in the alphabet and add them together, which words add up to …
Notas do episódio
💨 How many people are needed to guarantee that there is always someone farting somewhere?
🔠 If you match each letter with the corresponding number in the alphabet and add them together, which words add up to 100.
🏁 And there is some unfinished business.
Head to our socials for pictures of Matt’s Homemade Sea Salt and Bec’s Brilliant Branding, an assortment of Massive Hourglasses, the beautiful sketch of Bec, and a smiley jerk on the beach in the sunshine 🌅
Here is the full list of words that add up to 100 (and do be warned that it contains some words that may not be suitable for young eyes)
If you have a suggestion of dates for us to do a Rock Special and a Tooth Special,, go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com and select ‘Solution’ and do mention ‘International Teeth Day’
See Matt on tour in 2026!
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
124 = Dangerous Angling and Harmonious Wrangling
👼 What is the Angle of Death?🎼 What is the best filing system for sheet music?🎄And there’ll be some A-ho-ho-ho-BIf you have any maths-studio-based-names for the Newdio, go to the Problem Posing Page at …
Notas do episódio
👼 What is the Angle of Death?
🎼 What is the best filing system for sheet music?
🎄And there’ll be some A-ho-ho-ho-B
If you have any maths-studio-based-names for the Newdio, go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com and select ‘Solution’ and be as funny and punny as possible!
If you’d like to ask Matt and Bec anything for our special 2^7 episode in February go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com - select ‘Problem’ and start your message with AMA!
See Matt on tour in 2026! http://standupmaths.com/shows
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard - and a special APS Christmas Card!
If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
123 = The Science of Fries and Mounting Sea Level Rise
🍟 Why does the nutritional value of frozen chips change depending on whether they are cooked in an air fryer or in an oven?⛰️ How large a mountain could we make from 2.2 meters of dredged sea bed (combatting …
Notas do episódio
🍟 Why does the nutritional value of frozen chips change depending on whether they are cooked in an air fryer or in an oven?
⛰️ How large a mountain could we make from 2.2 meters of dredged sea bed (combatting sea level rise in the process)?
🃏And there’ll be some AOB, as easy as 123.
Head to our socials for pics of LIVE MATHS, chip nutritional values, post-Totoro Bec, ESA Souvenirs.
If you’d like to ask Matt and Bec anything for our special 2^7 episode in February go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com - select ‘Problem’ and start your message with AMA!
See Matt on tour in 2026! http://standupmaths.com/shows
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard. If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
122 = Shocking Theories with Quickfire Queries
🔥 How many quickfire problems is it possible to solve in a single episode of A Problem Squared? 🧑💼 Why is Matt dressed like a maths teacher?🃏And we will deal out some Any Other BusinessIf you’d like to ask …
Notas do episódio
🔥 How many quickfire problems is it possible to solve in a single episode of A Problem Squared?
🧑💼 Why is Matt dressed like a maths teacher?
🃏And we will deal out some Any Other Business
If you’d like to ask Matt and Bec anything for our special 2^7 episode go to the Problem Posing Page at aproblemsquared.com - select ‘Problem’ and start your message with AMA!
A chicken slapping machine - click to view at your own risk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68L6JA_CnmU
Here’s where you’ll find the video of Matt in 374 different outfits (and the 375th outfit is on our socials)
https://www.youtube.com/@standupmaths/videos
From AOB here’s Chris’ working…
https://chrisboettner.github.io/blog/posts/2025-10-28-card_game_blog.html
…and here’s Dede’s working…
https://github.com/dedebenui/cardgame
See Matt on tour!
Specifically, see Matt in London on Monday 1st December!
https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/matt-parker/
Or if you would like to see Bec in Brighton on Monday 1st December, tickets are here:
https://www.komedia.co.uk/shows/john-luke-roberts-geoffrey-chaucers-mediaeval-christmas-festivitye/
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard. If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
121 = Bi-annuals and Diagonals
🗓️ Does bi-weekly mean every two weeks or twice a week?🧊 What is the name of the line between two opposing corners of a cube?🕑 And daylight will be saved with some Any Other Brightness.For more on Rupert and …
Notas do episódio
🗓️ Does bi-weekly mean every two weeks or twice a week?
🧊 What is the name of the line between two opposing corners of a cube?
🕑 And daylight will be saved with some Any Other Brightness.
For more on Rupert and Nopert Shapes:
Euler Brick: https://mathworld.wolfram.com/EulerBrick.html
Tom7 - Rupert's Snub Cube and other Math Holes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH4MviUE0_s
Tom7’s Print files for Platonic, Archimedean and Catalan Solids: https://makerworld.com/en/models/1617011-platonic-archimedean-and-catalan-solids#profileId-1706419
Follow Dr Ben Whittle, The Excellent Etymologist, on Instagram! @schnebwhittle
Joey Parrish and his Sega Slides https://github.com/joeyparrish/sega-slides
See Matt on tour! http://standupmaths.com/shows
Specifically, see Matt in London on Monday 1st December! https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/matt-parker/
Or if you would like to see Bec in Brighton on Monday 1st December, tickets are here: https://www.komedia.co.uk/shows/john-luke-roberts-geoffrey-chaucers-mediaeval-christmas-festivitye/
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard. If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
120 = Dealing Probability and Healing Gullibility
🃏 What are the odds of actually winning Morgan’s very specific, very fun card game?🤯 Are people more gullible now? And what are the best ways to persuade someone they are wrong?👻 And, appropriate to the season …
Notas do episódio
🃏 What are the odds of actually winning Morgan’s very specific, very fun card game?
🤯 Are people more gullible now? And what are the best ways to persuade someone they are wrong?
👻 And, appropriate to the season, there will be some Any Other Boooooooooooooosness
If you have some ingenious suggestions of what Matt can do in lunar gravity, head to www.aproblemsquared.com and submit your idea as a ‘Solution’
Head to our socials to see Matt’s graph plot and stats on the odds of winning the card game, as well as Bec’s beautifully laid out existence proof of the 52 Card Game!
Some further reading on The Gullibility Problem:
Why are people so gullible? https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20160323-why-are-people-so-incredibly-gullible
Research paper on political extremism: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612464058
Nobel Disease: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Nobel_disease
And some tetrahedron-shaped packaging - or TetraPaks, if you will:
TetraPak: https://www.tetrapak.com/solutions/packaging/packages
SunnyBoys: https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/2016-goodbye-sunnyboy/
See Matt on tour! http://standupmaths.com/shows
And if you want to see Matt in London on Monday 1st December, tickets are here: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/matt-parker/
Or if you want to see Bec in Brighton on Monday 1st December, tickets are here: https://www.komedia.co.uk/shows/john-luke-roberts-geoffrey-chaucers-mediaeval-christmas-festivitye/
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt: https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.119 = Proportions by Bananas and Polygons from Lava
🍌 Is there a more consistent system of measuring things (and is it ‘Banana For Scale’)?🌋 Why and how do hexagons occur in nature?🔔 And there will be a whole Bec of Any Other BecnessHead to our socials to see …
Notas do episódio
🍌 Is there a more consistent system of measuring things (and is it ‘Banana For Scale’)?
🌋 Why and how do hexagons occur in nature?
🔔 And there will be a whole Bec of Any Other Becness
Head to our socials to see Matt and Bec playing The Metre Game, lots of bananas for scale, and Matt sporting some very fetching headwear.
Some further reading on the origins of ‘Banana For Scale’:
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/banana-for-scale
Some further reading on hexagons in basalt:
European Geoscience Union article:
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.154301
See Matt on tour!
Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths
And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt:
https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
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