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.
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: aproblemsquared.com. And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram. and Patreon.
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: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19144/lot/250/nintendo-game-boy-flown-in-space/ Check out the rest of the sale too...it's pretty cool: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19144/the-space-history-sale/ Evidence of the Beng-Beng Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Crispy Wafer bar: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203119821326 As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com. And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram. and Patreon.
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): https://inderjtaneja.com/2022/02/10/100-magic-squares-of-order-42-with-numbers-00-99/ Here's the original Numperphile video 'Magic Squares of Squares (are PROBABLY impossible)': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdsj84UdeYg&ab_channel=Numberphile The Firehose Specifications Document can be viewed here (It can't be real, right?): https://ifunny.co/picture/australian-government-fire-hose-spfcifications-all-hose-is-to-be-PDLNwbBZA?s=cl 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: www.aproblemsquared.com, 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: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo5sKqwUQBs Here's the ACTUAL packet, as remembered by Matt and Bec: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fordsbasement/7183508658# As always, send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com. If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are (who doesn't, right?) you can skip ahead of Matt and Bec to do the quiz here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram. and Patreon.
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: aproblemsquared.com. If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are (who doesn't, right?) you can skip ahead of Matt and Bec to do the quiz here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. And if you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram. and Patreon.
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: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-do-your-earphones-get-tangled-in-your-pocket-science-has-the-answer-9548540.html For more on the spontaneous knotting of an agitated string, look no further: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0611320104#sec-2 To really comprehend the over under technique you have to see it, and even then it's tricky. You can attempt to find out how to do that, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwMJHMSmjVY 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: bit.ly/APSgiveaway If you'd like to find out which Muppet you are, you can speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. As always send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com. And, finally, if you want EVEN MORE from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram or Patreon.
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: https://www.dropbox.com/s/89sp8ekvx2d13m7/Bath_Gustavsson.pdf?dl=0 And Tin's code with Matt's favourite plot, you can find that here: https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https://github.com/tinnuadan/PipingHotBath/blob/main/becbath.html If you'd like to see Matt and Bec in New York for an Evening of Unnecessary Detail you can still buy STANDING tickets here for $20: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/aeoud-7-13-2023 Merch Competition: Send in your sizes for those T-Shirts! And phone it in if you want THE HAT! Put your down preferences HERE: bit.ly/APSgiveaway If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. Send your problems, solutions and t-shirt specifications to our website: aproblemsquared.com. And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
APS 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: http://polyplane.org. You can watch Adam Neely expand on Bec's answer for irregular time signatures here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KCpJx_2K_g. For the Merch Competition, send in your sizes for those T-Shirts! And phone it in if you want THE HAT! You can give us your specifications on the problem posing page at A Problem Squared. 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: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. Send your problems, solutions and t-shirt specifications to our website: aproblemsquared.com. And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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: https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/show/an-evening-of-unnecessary-detail/ This is your 10 day call, this link closes on the 20th of April! -- Roll up! roll up! The limited edition Millionth Download Commemorative Plates and / or Bowls are here. You can ORDER them here: Plate: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=y696c5w Bowl: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=wzv5cew If you want to find out more about the Solar Eclipse Matt's going to see in Aus, do that here: https://www.australiascoralcoast.com/products/ningaloo-eclipse#:~:text=On%20April%2020%2C%202023%20visitors,a%20total%20solar%20eclipse%20occurs. Matt explains this tweet to Bec in our first problem: https://twitter.com/standupmaths/status/1354919418300657669 And here is the offending, and very funny, website they reference - Visual Fractions: https://visualfractions.com/calculator/factorial/what-is-the-factorial-of-170/ If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. Send your problems and solutions to our website: aproblemsquared.com. And, finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=y696c5w Bowl: https://achievefulfilment.onwarehouse.app/preorders/new?campaign_id=wzv5cew If you want to see the full Two Ronnies 'Swedish Made Simple' sketch, you can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc3M1nppd3c 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHi479xN_po 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUuGy5agBfg 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 https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. If YOU'VE got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And, finally, if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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 aproblemsquared.com. You can get your DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYDdHSXRQro&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmicshambles.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title&themeRefresh=1 We want YOU for the 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: https://ima.org.uk/21241/ima-lms-christopher-zeeman-lecture-and-medal-presentation/ If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. You can get your DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. If you'd like to find out which Muppet YOU are, just speed ahead of Matt and Bec and find that out here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-plants-and-wood-into-great-britain/from-outside-the-eu Here are the free IMBD data sets used by Matt in his problem: https://www.imdb.com/interfaces/ 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: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/which-muppet-are-you If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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 aproblemsquared.com. You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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: https://www.tiktok.com/@ayliean/video/7183451455569923355. You can also find her on Twitter! And if you want to listen to Bec officially beef with Ryan Baldi on The Deam Factory, you can do that here: https://shows.acast.com/dreamfactory/episodes/who-brings-a-ball-to-war-ft-bec-hill If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. And of course, if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.