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.
Episodes (51)
117 = Visualising Hacks and Unusual Icy Snacks
👁️ How do you remember things if you can’t visualisethem in your mind’s eye?🍭 What’s the best shape for a freeze pop?🪣 And there’s some Any Other Beachness Head to our socials to see freeze pop pics,...
116 = Guess The Right Price and Why Teeth Might Splice
￡ What’s the optimum strategy to win The Price Is Right?🦷 Why have Tim’s baby teeth fallen apart?🛠️ And there’s some Any Other Billy Bookcase BusinessHead to our socials to play along with The Price...
115 = Jolly Good Euphemising and Hollywood Sign Sizing
🍆 What’s the “female equivalent” of phallic? What’s the font size of the Hollywood sign?🦈 And we’re always open for AOBusinessThanks to our excellent experts appearing in voicenote form - Dr Ben...
114 = Delectable Dips and Dealable Decks
🃏 What’s the deal with cards?🫕 What is the perfect ratio of chips to dips?🍔 And there’s some Any Other B-B-Q-B-nessHead to our socials to see the card shuffle and patterns, Bec’s starstruck selfie,...
113 = Marg Ana Names and Mid Career Change
🚂 If you want a career change, how do you decide what to retrain as?👶 What would be a good set of names for twins or triplets?🦷 And there’s some Any Other BusiHere’s some baby naming code from Colin...
112 = Staring Safely At The Sun and Celebrations Off By One
🌞 How far away from the Sun do we have to travel before we can look at it without damaging our eyes?📆 Is there an off by one error with anniversaries?🍝 And AOB has been slow cooked and packed up in...
111 = Mnemonic Serenading and Mechanism Naming
🎶 Why are songs easier to remember than sentences?⚙️ Can we come up with new names (that meet strict criteria) for leader/follower motors?🌟 And it’s a glitzy, toothy, clackety AOB As discussed in the...
110 = Inventive Dice and Paperwork Advice
🎲What’s the best design for non-traditional dice?📄 What should you call paperwork that doesn’t involve paper?🙋And it’s more a comment than a question in AOBHead to our socials to see Matt’s excellent...
109 = Fourth Dimensions and Love Conventions
4️⃣ What would it look like to be trapped in a 4D world?🥰 What is the meaning of marriage?✨Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get AOBusyHead to our socials to see some fantastic representations of 2D meets 3D meets 4D...
108 = Proofed Mates and Proved Dates
🍻What’s the best way to politely tell a friend that they’ve had too much to drink?🗞️ Is there a way to prove that something existed before a certain date?❌And AOB brings us some friendly corrections…A...
107 = Megabytes and Satellites
🧱How many megabytes are actually in a gigabyte?🌕There have been some Moon Developments…😎And AOB will bring a little sunshine into your lifeHere is NASA’s Press Release about navigation on the...
106 = Travel ABC and Art of Karate
🗺️ Is there an alphabetically perfect travel route?🪵 What can be done with karate chopped wood?🤙 And we ride the crest of the Any Other Business waveYou can find the data-basis for the alphabetically...
105 = Next Prime Dates and Ancient Gag Rates
📆 When is the next Prime Number Day?🤣 What is the oldest joke?🪨 And we get to the rock bottom of Any Other BusinessYou can find Matt’s Divisibility Rules video...
104 = Paper Spread and Pencil Lead
📃 Is a sheet of A-45 paper big enough to wrap the earth? ✏️ Why do we still call pencil graphite lead?👔 There’s business to attend to. You can find Matt and Hannah’s protractor up the shard video...
103 = Heaps Splad and Paul’s Pad
🤫 Which synonyms are Caesar ciphers of each other?🎨 Bec and Matt attempt to help a listener decorate their home. 💼 The tax business briefcase is wide open. ⚔️ And battleships heats up. It’s time to...
102 = Copyright Traps and Saturday Night Gaps
✅ What’s the best way to leave your mark?
🗓️ Can Saturday Night Live be on Every Day?
📍 And there are some big locations in AOB
Top Marks: https://neatnik.net/steganographr/#results
SNL Spreadsheet:...
101 = Squear Data and The Big Banana (in an Aussie accent)
🔺 What are the most “interesting” years?
🍌 Bec goes big on Big Things
🎉 When Party Tricks Go Wrong
🔢 And there's some numerical AOB
Here’s Max-matics’ video that Matt mentioned - Turning a 2024 Ball...
🍌 Bec goes big on Big Things
🎉 When Party Tricks Go Wrong
🔢 And there's some numerical AOB
Here’s Max-matics’ video that Matt mentioned - Turning a 2024 Ball...
Welcome to A Problem....Suspended!
Hello you wonderful listener,
Welcome to a new year. 2025 - has a nice ring to it doesn't it?
This is a short announcement to say that there will be a very short feed break - just an episode or two,...
Welcome to a new year. 2025 - has a nice ring to it doesn't it?
This is a short announcement to say that there will be a very short feed break - just an episode or two,...
100 = Orchestral Seats and Calculator Beef
To celebrate A Problem Squared’s 100th episode…
🎼 What is the least popular instrument in an orchestra?
🍎 Matt is appalled.
🔮 Another unplanned, unexpected mystery segment!
💼 And the business...
🎼 What is the least popular instrument in an orchestra?
🍎 Matt is appalled.
🔮 Another unplanned, unexpected mystery segment!
💼 And the business...
099 = Most Watched Films and Homonyms
099 = Most Watched Films and Homonyms
✍️ What single word in the English Language has the most different meanings?
📺 Is the most consumed media of all time a holiday movie or song?
🗞 There’s some...
✍️ What single word in the English Language has the most different meanings?
📺 Is the most consumed media of all time a holiday movie or song?
🗞 There’s some...
098 = Something Blue and Diamond Birthdays Too
098 = Something Blue and Diamond Birthdays Too
💙What are the most extreme examples of something old, something blue, something borrowed, something new?
💎What’s up with diamond birthdays?
🔥A new...
💙What are the most extreme examples of something old, something blue, something borrowed, something new?
💎What’s up with diamond birthdays?
🔥A new...
097 = Number of Maps & Numbered Pads
097 = Number of Maps & Numbered Pads
🗺 Are there enough OS maps to cover Great Britain?
0️⃣ Why does zero come after nine on a mobile phone?
📰 And, of course, some AOB!
If you want to see...
🗺 Are there enough OS maps to cover Great Britain?
0️⃣ Why does zero come after nine on a mobile phone?
📰 And, of course, some AOB!
If you want to see...
096 = Movie Pairs and Moving Flares
🎞 Why would competing studios release movies in the same year that have the same concept or plot?
🔭 Why are we seeing the Aurora Borealis in the UK?
📈 Business of an any other nature.
If you want...
🔭 Why are we seeing the Aurora Borealis in the UK?
📈 Business of an any other nature.
If you want...
095 = Friday Fears and Disco Spheres
🍀 Does the 13th really fall more frequently on Friday?
💿 How do you make a giant disco ball wearable?
🍩 And we have some any other doughness.
If you want to find out more about the cardboard...
💿 How do you make a giant disco ball wearable?
🍩 And we have some any other doughness.
If you want to find out more about the cardboard...
094 = The First Podcasts and Votes Precast
💿 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...
🗳 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...
093 = Game Solutions and Neil Distributions
⭕ 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...
092 = Broken Hands and Alexander's Bands
🌈 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...
🕰 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...
091 = Optimal Darts and Smelling Sharks
🎯 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...
🦈 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...
090 = Washing Machine Lies and Lincoln Penny Highs
🧺 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...
🪙 How long will it take to sell 400 Lincoln memorial pennies for $20,000?
🔔 We have DINGS!
🧳 And the business briefcase is...
089 = Venomous Snakes and Doggy Legs
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...
🐍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...
088 = Tired Tires and Curvy Cubes
🚘 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:...
🧊 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:...
087 = Climbing Cliffses and Cloning Eclipses
🧗 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...
🌞 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...
086 = Emoji Editions and Birthday Billions
🙏 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...
🍚 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...
085 = Coin Collections and Pin Selections
🪙 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...
📍How do you display enamel pins?!
💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is…mostly open.
Here’s...
084 = Indicators and In Da Cake-ers
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,...
🎂 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,...
083 = Sunbeams and Dog Dreams
🌒 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:...
💤 Do animals dream?
💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is…half open.
Send your problems and solutions to our website:...
An Emergency Broadcast to Solve an Emergency Problem.
🔔🚨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...
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...
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:...
🧺 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:...
081 = Pi Prize and Square Stairs
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...
🥧 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...
080 = Naming Clichés and Squaring Birthdays
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...
🍼 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...
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’...
⤵ 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’...
078 = Spinal Taps and Star Maps
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...
🇺🇸 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...
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...
🌏 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...
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.
P.S episode not intentionally Italy themed....
🍝 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....
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'd like some extra listening...
🏺 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...
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...
🍫 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...
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...
💨 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...
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...
🎨 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...
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...
🃏 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...
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....
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 ...
About this Podcast
Copyright
Matt Parker, Bec Hill
Language
en-us
Categories
Comedy