Explore every episode of the podcast A Problem Squared
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 139 = Music Down Where It’s Wetter and Throwing Darts Better | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:56:22 | |
🎺 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 | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:59:35 | |
📝 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. | |||
| 129 = People off Ground and Pound for Pound | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:54:25 | |
🛫 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. | |||
| 042 = Plate or Bowl Guesses and Faster Processes | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:37:09 | |
In this episode... * When does a plate become a bowl? * And, five five-letter words with twenty-five unique letters: Some mind-blowing solutions. Juat a reminder that you can now buy APS merch! Head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram. | |||
| 041 = Table Surface Braced and Toothbrush Versus Paste | 29 Aug 2022 | 00:50:34 | |
In this episode... * How do you stop a wobbly table from wobbling? * Which is more effective for your dental hygiene: a toothbrush without toothpaste or toothpaste without a toothbrush? * A-to-the-O-to-the-B. * Plus! Some exciting merch news. If you want to see more of Matt's wobbly tables on ridiculous maths surfaces, you can do that here: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0511490. For the best system for teeth brushing and more tips on dental hygiene have a listen to ‘APS 03 - Teeth Tips and Defining Decades’ https://aproblemsquared.libsyn.com/aps-003. And, you can now buy APS merch! If you want a t-shirt of your own, head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram. | |||
| 040 = Anniversary Crazes and Any Cursory Praises | 15 Aug 2022 | 00:55:13 | |
In THIS episode... * What's the most appropriate gift for a couple’s -1 year anniversary? * How do you write a podcast review without Apple podcasts? * And Bec and Matt return to rather a lot of AOB. We would like to thank shittyflute on YouTube for letting us use their rendition of the A-Team theme tune. You can find more tunes you love, badly played here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMmLi8z1HbyhTEvfBgXpyg As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 039 = Many Ways to Replace Lights and Trebuchets Shooting Space Flights (live at Bluedot Festival) | 01 Aug 2022 | 00:41:47 | |
In this very special episode, live from Blue Dot Festival... * How many astronauts does it take to change a light bulb? * What is the most environmentally friendly way to launch an object into space? * And APS are live for the first time at Blue Dot Festival! A huge thank you all the contributors that helped make this episode happen; To Professor Steven Lockley from Harvard. You can find more about his contributions to sleep in space here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576512001336 If you want to find out about Circadian Rhythms on Earth, have a listen to Episode 026: ‘Sliding on Snow and Skipping on Sleep’. To Trent Burton from Cosmic Shambles who helped us get in touch with Tim Peak. You can listen to their incredible selection of podcasts here: https://cosmicshambles.com/podcasts/ And of course, to Sarah Bennetto for booking us! You can find her on Twitter here, she's very funny: https://twitter.com/sarahbennetto?s=20&t=mf8AoKcmvUXVbHw2YQAoQA As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 038 = Fldxt in Wordle and Improv Tact Hurdle | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:55:15 | |
In this episode... * Can you guess 5 unique words with unique letters in Wordle? * How do you get out of your head and into the scene in improv? * And any other Cheesness. Here's the dictionary text file Matt started with for his problem. It contains 370,000 words: https://github.com/dwyl/english-words A huge thank you to everyone who helped with Bec's dinglett. Alex Holland at the Free Association - this is where Bec did her improv course, and you can find details about that here: https://thefreeassociation.co.uk. David Reed, his play Guy Fawkes will be showing at the York Theatre from October:https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/guy-fawkes/. Also to Rachel Pariss, you can find her on 'The Latenight Mash' with Nish Kumar or here on Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/33emshys And the brilliant Josie Lawrence. You can find more about her on twitter too: https://tinyurl.com/JosieLawrence As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 037 = Digital Displays and Digits All Splayed | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:47:11 | |
In this episode... * When does a high five become a low five? * What is the most efficient digital display? * And, some any other beesness Just 18 more sleeps until APS is LIVE at Bluedot - that's between 19:45 - 20:45 on Friday the 22nd July. Please send in your Bluedot specific questions to the Problem Solving Page including the phrase 'Bluedot'. You can do this on Twitter too, but it might get lost! A big shout out to Mr Thing, just because they are fantastic. You can find them on Twitter: @wearemrthing or on their website here: https://www.wearething.co.uk/. You can also see them at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Fest, and buy tickets for that here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mr-thing-show. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 036 = Score Menu Sets and Door Etiquette | 20 Jun 2022 | 00:56:46 | |
In this episode:
You can find more about Emma Haruka Iwao's record breaking Pi calculation here: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/compute/calculating-100-trillion-digits-of-pi-on-google-cloud And, of course, if you want want more from A Problem Squared, come find us on Twitter and Instagram. | |||
| 035 = Lunar Cheese Pops and Physics Bullet Drops | 06 Jun 2022 | 00:41:43 | |
In THIS episode... * How long would it take us to eat the moon if it was made of cheese? * If you shot and dropped a bullet at exactly the same time, they would hit the ground simultaneously? * And Bec and Matt give thanks. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 034 = Novel Seal of Approval and Family Seal of Removal | 23 May 2022 | 00:44:38 | |
In this episode... * How related are you to a Harbour seal? * Bec gives some novel advice. * Matt mends a mistake. * And there's all sorts of AOB. If you want to bid on the £5,000 t-shirt referenced in 006 of A Problem Squared, join us on the 26th of May, 2022! All proceeds go to Water Aid - links to come. Bec's new book 'Now LiveScreaming' is out now! Go buy it! You can find Yale's incredible evolutionary and ecological chat here: https://vertlife.org/ And just a little recap, seals are in the Mammalian order Carnivora. Humans are in the Mammalian order Primates - 82.1 millions years ago the 'magnorder' of Boreoeutheria split into Euarchontoglires (which later gave us Primates) and Laurasiatheria (which gave us Carnivora). Bec also references ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King in her dinglett.
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| 033 = Super Computers and Putrid Pong Tooters | 09 May 2022 | 00:45:11 | |
In this episode: * Can you alter the smell of your farts based on what you eat? * When does a computer become a supercomputer? * And, Any AOB! A huge thank you to Dr Jess Biesiekierski, you can find them at @jessbersa and @monashnutrition on Twitter, Dr Dr CK Yao, find them at @yao_ck on Twitter and of course, Gareth Turkington , @G_Turkington on Twitter, @gareth.turkington on Insta, who created, sung and recorded the fantastic “Fart Life”. If you want to find out more about pop-off related research referenced by Dr Jess, Dr CK and Bec, please have a look at the papers below: - Gas profiling study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2018.1451280 - Protein fermentation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26527169/ - Co-supplementation in IBS: https://bit.ly/3M1FnPo - Charcoal cushion study: htt
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| 128 = AMA 2^7 Special | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:51:29 | |
❓ 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. | |||
| 032 = Mountains, Molehills and Mates | 25 Apr 2022 | 00:40:32 | |
On this episode... * How many molehills would you need to make a mountain out of them? * How do you find friends? * Matt revisits some mistaken maths. Don't forget to send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 031 = Differing Frames and Numbering Phones | 11 Apr 2022 | 00:55:51 | |
In this episode... * Why are aspect ratios so whack? * How many phone numbers actually exist? * Wheels or Doors: Revisited. * And, closure on A Pudding Squared. A big thank you to Tom Salinsky for helping with this week's problem. You can find more from him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomsalinsky?lang=en and his podcast, Best Pick Pod, here: https://twitter.com/bestpickpod?lang=en If you want to see Matt, Bec AND Lucie at the belated and brilliant Nine Carols variety show on the 16th and 17th of April, you can book tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/nine-lessons-and-carols-for-curious-people-3/ You can check on tickets for Matt's shows here: https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/matt-parker-2 (Disclaimer: The 21st of April may, definitely be sold out.) Bec's NEW BOOK Horror Heights: Now LiveScreaming is available for pre-order here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/bec-hill-2/horror-heights-now-livescreaming/9781444962338/ This is Dexter and Ivy's incredible A Pudding Squared answer, here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/In1cdfg_J4A Don't forget too send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the site below - we might just do it live! As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) you can find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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| 030 = Genetic Draws and Wheels vs Doors | 28 Mar 2022 | 00:50:09 | |
In this episode... * What are the odds of having the same child twice? * Wheels or Doors? * And Bec recommends some new nerdy podcasts! Don't forget too send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram
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| 029 = Product Labels and Public Payrolls | 14 Mar 2022 | 00:51:29 | |
Happy Pi Day 2022! In this episode... * Which edible products have protected names? * How much tax paid by a civil servant would pass into their own salary? * And of course. We have AOB-B-B-b-b-b.... To watch a crack team of 30 calculate 11 digits of Pi by hand, head over to Stand-up Maths on YouTube. If you want a qualification of your own, why not take the Food Standards Agency Food Labelling e-course here, or if you'd rather do something else instead, just ask Bec for the source elements. Get your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com. If you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram | |||
| 028 = Having a Chat and Nav'ing a Sat | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:45:23 | |
In this episode... * Could a GPS sat nav work on the moon? * A Pudding Squared returns. * An APS announcement. * AND format news! If you have any memory of how 'Is This Your Card' started please (please) let us know. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com. And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram. | |||
| 027 = Postcode Tray Score and Mesh Mask Decor | 31 Jan 2022 | 00:44:12 | |
In this episode... * How do you reuse an old radiotherapy mask? * What is the optimal way to utilise postcodes in Scrabble? * And, the results of our 2021 listener survey are in. For more on radiotherapy masks, head on over to Macmillan. And do check out the Bravery Unmasked project for some truly incredible mask transformations. If you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram. And as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com.
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| 026 = Sliding on Snow and Skipping on Sleep | 31 Dec 2021 | 00:54:04 | |
APS 026 is here, and it's the last of the year! In this episode... * How fast could a team of penguins complete a 4 x 100 relay race? * How can you fix your sleeping schedule? * And, AOB - lot's of it! As ever, we value your thoughts on A Problem Squared so head on over to: www.thatsurvey.ilikeit.aproblemsquared.com and give us some feedback! You can learn more about circadian rhythms here: https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx How to change them, here: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/can-you-change-your-circadian-rhythm Some tried and tested sleep hacks (that really work): https://www.sleepcycle.com/how-to-fall-asleep/serious-sleep-hacks-that-really-work/ More about the B-Society, who help employers and educators to facilitate chronotypes that don’t suit early hours is here: https://www.b-society.org/about/ And, to find out which country you sleep like, follow this link here: https://time.com/4318156/sleep-countries-style/We would also like to give a special mention to the alternative episode name that we were all very proud of: 'Antarctic Circles and Anarchic Cycles'. And an extra special mention to Bec for coming up with it. | |||
| 025 = Bec's Beck's and Bucks | 30 Nov 2021 | 00:52:37 | |
In this month's episode Bec finds out how many Beck's beers would fit in Bec Hill. And Matt investigates how much he'd have in Euros, if every person gave him 1 in their local currency. Plus! A ding is given, and Matt goes to Antarctica. A big thank you to Adam Kay, Doctor Xand and sword swallowers Snookie Mono and Snake Fervor for their help with this episode. As always, send your problems to www.aproblemsquared.com, EXCEPT if it's related to Antarctica, in which case, ask on Twitter: @AProblemSquared. | |||
| 024 = Pumpkin Bores and Bumps 'n' Doors | 31 Oct 2021 | 00:40:35 | |
APS 024 is out now! And it's a spooky October edition! In this episode... * What's the largest hole that can be carved in a pumpkin without the pumpkin collapsing? * How do you stop noisy ghosts rattling doors when you're trying to sleep? * And, Cupboard of Nupboard: The people have spoken! | |||
| 023 = The Weight of Words and Graphene for Turds | 30 Sep 2021 | 00:51:16 | |
Yes, that's right. The Weight of Words and Graphene for Turds. In this month's episode... If graphene was rolled to the size of a loo roll, how long would that roll be? What is the weight of the ink in Bec's book? Plus! The REAL answer to Earth's longest line of sight. And, Bec and Matt are reunited after two years apart. If you want want EVEN MORE from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram or Patreon. And as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com. | |||
| 127 = Labelling Consumables and Conceivable Numerals | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:55:55 | |
🫘 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.
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| 022 = Serial Writing, Lineal Sighting, and Cereal Biting | 31 Aug 2021 | 00:49:06 | |
What's the best way to stay inspired when writing? Where on earth can you look the furthest away at something else, that is also on the earth? When eating cereal, what is the milk? Sauce, broth, jus or something else? Plus! Repurposing crushed bike helmets: Can you, should you? | |||
| 021 = Inharmonics and Skin-harm-tonics | 31 Jul 2021 | 01:06:55 | |
This is Inharmonics and Skin-harm-tonics! In this month's episode... How well can the human voice mimic a dinging bell? Bec teams up with a multi-vocalist Beardyman to tackle this one! What is the optimal use of sunscreen to create a tan and protect your skin? Plus: The results from Matt's sunny survey are IN and we have updates from episode 020. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media @AProblemSquared. If you want to master the mysterious art of harmonic singing, you can learn more from Anna Maria on YouTube. And a massive thank you once again to Beardyman. He is on the internet so go check him out! | |||
| 020 = Filling Up and Falling Down | 30 Jun 2021 | 00:50:57 | |
Score! It's episode 020 of A Problem Squared, Filling Up and Falling Down! In this episode...
As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media. You can find Matt's favourite mascot fail here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Zph323Dos For full (en)closure, the solution to the most recent A Pudding Squared, is right here: https://twitter.com/Hellcat_Mama/status/1400053063012995073?s=08
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| 019 = Wetness, Trees and Pet Mysteries | 31 May 2021 | 00:50:19 | |
How did a hamster end up in a listener's apartment on the other side of the world? How many leaves would humans need to photosynthesise all our energy? Plus, an update on Dish Splatters: Why don't plastic things dry in the dishwasher? If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media. It's Pudding, on the 'gram For Bec's hamster habitat, look no further. And, welcome to the world of Hamster-tube. Here are some of Bec's favourite hamster moms, Malica and Victoria. In the Catch Up segment Matt talks about solving a mathematical quandary: whether all nets of the 4D Hypercube can tile 3D space. The answer is yes! Here is the link to that video
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| 018 = Make Your Vote Count & New Species Amount | 30 Apr 2021 | 00:48:10 | |
This month, Matt and Bec explore voting systems in elections. Bec wonders what effect it might have to vote for a novelty candidate. And we speak to a special guest who might just know a thing or two about this. Plus a whole heap of quick-fire problem solving! Here's the video Matt mentioned that simulates alternate voting systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhO6jfHPFQU&ab_channel=Primer
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| 017 = All The Hills, Fauna Fills and Sauna Chills | 31 Mar 2021 | 00:46:22 | |
How many Bec Hills could fit in Bexhill? What species would make the longest queue if you put every individual in a single line? Plus an update on Bec's coat conundrum! If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www.aproblemsquared.com, or on social media. Thanks to www.higherdose.com for providing the sauna blanket for the fluffy jacket problem. To find out more about Mileva Marić and the campaign to have her contributions recognised, visit www.inspiring-girls.com/ig-blog/marijamilevablog
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| 016 = Biscuit Tips and Longer Trips | 28 Feb 2021 | 00:50:24 | |
In this month's episode, Matt investigates what is the optimal way to share biscuits amongst a group, and Bec explores how you can elongate your holiday time using all manner of creative methods. Plus updates on short shorts and how much Coronavirus is there in the world. Send your problems at www.aproblemsquared.com And here's the study Matt referenced about perceptions of Time: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0001295
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| 015 = Getting Plucky and Feeling Lucky | 31 Jan 2021 | 00:54:35 | |
This month Matt and Bec are problem-solving thusly: Can you cast shadow puppets on the Moon? Why do champion cyclists wear such short shorts? Is there such a thing as a lucky person? Here's a useful graphic of how the Moon orbits Earth https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth And this is the article referenced by Bec in the show about body hair: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/the-casualties-of-womens-war-on-body-hair/514983/ Send your problems to our new improved website! www.aproblemsquared.com
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| 014 = Final Cheese Drama and Quick-Fire-O-Rama | 31 Dec 2020 | 00:52:13 | |
It's the end of year special! We have an update on the Cheese Cover Up, the results of the listener survey, and a selection of quick-fire new problems to round off 2020. Plus, what on Earth has Matt been doing to his Christmas tree? Head to @aproblemsquared on Twitter and Instagram to see images of listeners' cheese packaging recommendations, Matt's pie charts, and Bec's framed Christmas card.
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| 013 = Heavy Lifting and Clever Gifting | 30 Nov 2020 | 00:55:57 | |
What's the most cunning way to move furniture on your own? Thoughtful ideas for Christmas presents Answers to the riddle of Pudding's Wheel, including a brilliant piece of maths by a listener. Recipe for microwave fudge: Pudding's instagram: instagram.com/hamsterpud | |||
| 126 = Temperature Levels and Special Vessels | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:59:09 | |
🧊 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. | |||
| 012 = Series of Teeth and Queries of Cheese | 31 Oct 2020 | 00:59:56 | |
To celebrate 12 episodes we're collecting some data! If you can, fill in the listener survey: http://thatsurvey.ilikeit.aproblemsquared.com Does this cheese look like it has 41% less packaging? https://www.dropbox.com/s/kuj16lmkgrx8w7i/41cheese.jpeg?dl=0Here's the wikipedia page we used to make sense of shark teeth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_tooth#/media/File:How_to_count_shark_teeth.png The Weaire-Phelan structure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaire%E2%80%93Phelan_structure What a truncated octahedron looks like: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truncated_octahedron And a spinning one! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Truncatedoctahedron.gif | |||
| 011 = Massive Halls and Ambassadors' Balls | 30 Sep 2020 | 00:48:09 | |
How long is a year of A Problem Squared podcasts? What's the qualification for a room being a room? Is the famous Ferrero Rocher advert mathematically possible? You can visit the Crafts Council campaign here: https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/support-us/appeals-and-projects/lets-craft-packs-children Delve into luxury with the original Ferrero Rocher ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-nZZkQqTc The best-known packings of equal circles in a circle http://hydra.nat.uni-magdeburg.de/packing/cci/d1.html Correction: Bec's episode of Jonathan Ross's Comedy Club aired on 19th September (Series 1 Episode 2) | |||
| 010 = Heat Fighting and Typewriting | 31 Aug 2020 | 00:44:18 | |
- How can you keep cool when there's no air conditioning? - What's the best thing to do with a spare room? (If you're lucky enough to have one, that is.) - How much would the Big Macadamia Nut be worth if it was an actual nut? - Why are typewriters mysterious? Matt's long-awaited topography video, inspired by a problem in the show, is here at last! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtKhbbcc1Rc You can see the typewriter patent here: https://patents.google.com/patent/US207559A/en And for Bec's 5KTS t-shirt, head here: www.bechillcomedian.com/5kts/square | |||
| 009 = Big Statues and Big Stack Chews | 31 Jul 2020 | 00:49:08 | |
- Could pennies make a girlfriend for the Statue of Liberty? Here's Bec's burger video analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAc2ukZVtdk And for Bec's 5KTS t-shirt, head here: www.bechillcomedian.com/5kts/square | |||
| 008 = Height Matters and Dish Splatters | 30 Jun 2020 | 00:52:17 | |
- Why are kitchen counters one-size-fits-all? Special thanks to: And for Bec's 5KTS t-shirt, head here: www.bechillcomedian.com/5kts/square | |||
| 007 = Big Thing Fans and Retirement Plans | 31 May 2020 | 00:45:10 | |
- What is the biggest big thing? Support us on Patreon! Review us on apple podcasts: Twitter: https://twitter.com/aproblemsquared This is the bear with very long legs. Very long. Legs. Tallest Filing Cabinet on Earth The difference between Financial Advice and Financial Guidance. Get your own free financial guidance from here: Bec's £5000 T-SHIRT Here's Mr Squiggle, he's lots of fun for everyone. Check out our instagram for photos. | |||
| 006 = Squaring Shirts and Testing Toasters | 30 Apr 2020 | 00:36:47 | |
Support us on Patreon! Submit your data for our toaster investigation. Mike Hill wrote up his calculations as an official report. Energy Scavengers: Static Electricity Could Power the World International Electrotechnical Commission standards 60065 Limmy's channel. Limmys Show: Whats heavier a kilogram of steel or a kilogram of feathers | |||
| 005 = Airplane Stacks and Backpack Hacks | 01 Apr 2020 | 00:46:11 | |
- What went wrong with the audio of episode 003? Support us on Patreon! Review us on apple podcasts: Twiiter: https://twitter.com/aproblemsquared Listen to the BROKEN version of episode 003 and see how you hear Bec! Wikipedia page on surround sound Matrix Decoding. Watch Bec's flip-chart of "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien" by Edith Piaf. This is the audio file of Non Je Ne Regrette Rien that Bec sometimes has problems with. There are only 10,575 Boeing 737s which have been made and delivered. Check out our instagram for photos of the 'Futuristic Garden' Bec gave Matt for their spare room. | |||
| 004 = Quarantine Kits and Contagion Calculus | 24 Mar 2020 | 00:40:21 | |
- Why is this episode so late? Get in touch if you'd like to share your working-from-home space. We'd love to see it! https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared | |||
| 003 = Teeth Tips and Defining Decades | 31 Jan 2020 | 00:47:17 | |
- When does the new decade start? Get in touch if you have any more travel tips! https://www.instagram.com/aproblemsquared/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aproblemsquared | |||
| 125 = Toots from Bums and Attitude Sums | 05 Jan 2026 | 01:00:30 | |
💨 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. | |||
| 002 = Too Much Pizza, Not Enough Space | 31 Dec 2019 | 00:41:16 | |
Watch Bec on the Jonathan Ross show: The Ri Lectures are on iPlayer now and the Ri channel a month later: All the images we mention are on our instagram: | |||
| 001 = Sizing Shoes and Selling Organs | 30 Nov 2019 | 00:42:43 | |
Problems featured in this episode:
Bec Hill: http://bechillcomedian.com/ CORRECTIONS: 01:04 Matt says "early adapter" when he means "early adopter". But it could be both. It’s a podcast that changes you. 18:08 Bec says "4" instead of "6". Don't worry: the maths was all ok. Phew. 26:22 Bec says "implicit permission" when she means "explicit permission". She will definitely double check before she repurposes any one else's teeth. | |||
| 124 = Dangerous Angling and Harmonious Wrangling | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:55:02 | |
👼 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. | |||