A Problem Squared

🫘 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=KdZrxkix9MkEvery Time "67" Has Been Said on Numberphile, if you dare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlJMJfPPnVAGoogolplex 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.

Ever wondered why the coldest day of winter doesn't align with the shortest day? Dive into fascinating science with insights on thermal lag and Earth's quirks! If you’re not drinking alcohol, discover creative uses for fancy glassware that go beyond cocktails. Plus, learn whether a defibrillator can cook a chicken—spoiler: it's a surprising no! The hosts also share indexing hacks for organizing creative projects, ensuring your next big idea is never lost. Tune in for laughs and intriguing facts!

Dive into the quirky world of farts and numbers! Discover how many people are needed for guaranteed farting and explore the charming math behind it. Learn about Matt's homemade sea salt adventure and its comedic branding dilemmas. Plus, find out which words can numerically sum to 100, with some laugh-out-loud examples. They also discuss fun ideas for annual themed shows on rocks and teeth. Join in on the playful banter and mathematical madness that blends humor with clever problem-solving!

Dive into the intriguing concept of the 'Angle of Death' and how it connects with tetraphobia! Discover the art of cider-making as the hosts share their backyard apple press adventures. Tune in for practical solutions to church music filing woes, like genre folders and inventive sorting strategies. Enjoy festive banter, creative studio names from listener submissions, and a sneak peek at their upcoming Christmas card. Plus, don't miss the taste test of defrosted apple juice, sparking a discussion about yeast and juice characteristics!

Explore the fascinating differences in nutritional value of frozen chips cooked in air fryers versus ovens. Discover how moisture loss affects calorie counts and cooking outcomes. Delve into a whimsical calculation estimating how a 2.2-meter dredged seabed could form a towering mountain. Matt's amusing math leads to the conclusion of a 44 km high hill, though practicality and environmental concerns come into play. Plus, hear about Bec's emotional Totoro stage experience and Matt's thrilling lunar-gravity flight experiments.

In a whirlwind of fun, Matt and Bec tackle quickfire problems, from the surprising logistical limits of using a defibrillator to cook chicken to brainstorming the best cat names starting with Y. They explore the intricacies of which letters are silent in words like 'scent' and share playful ideas for creatively thanking wedding guests. Expect witty banter about name mispronunciation and a unique approach to naming Dr. Sophie's gaming garage, all while inviting listeners to submit questions for an upcoming AMA!

What does 'bi-weekly' really mean? The hosts tackle this language conundrum with some quirky alternatives. Ever wondered about the diagonal of a cube? They delve into face and space diagonals and even introduce Euler bricks. The fascinating world of Prince Rupert's cube and the unique shapes called nopets is explored, revealing how researchers find these math gems. Plus, there's a humorous take on combining names into 'Megazord' titles. A playful and enlightening discussion awaits!

Discover the odds of winning a unique card game and learn how certain cognitive biases make people more gullible today. The hosts dive into simulation results, revealing surprising win probabilities. They discuss fascinating psychological concepts like Nobel disease and offer strategies for encouraging self-reflection in discussions. Plus, enjoy some spooky banter and listener feedback about tetrahedral packaging and other intriguing tales. This lively conversation blends math, psychology, and humor!

Ever wondered if bananas could be the universal measurement standard? The hosts dive into the quirky idea of using bananas for scale while examining the challenges of variability. They explore the fascinating science behind why hexagons are nature's preferred shape, from basalt formations to bee honeycombs. With playful games and thought-provoking discussions, you’ll learn about the physics that govern these natural wonders — all while enjoying some hilarious antics, including a banana hat!

Dive into the surprisingly low odds of rolling snake eyes in a reality show and the shenanigans of TV production tricks. Discover the fascinating journey of learning to juggle seven balls—if you’re dedicated, you could achieve this in just twelve weeks! Learn about siteswap notation that can speed up your juggling mastery. Plus, enjoy quirky listener submissions like overlapping child names and a unique hamster setup for sale. It’s a delightful mix of math, juggling, and community fun!