A Problem Squared

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!

Unfortunately, Matt has been ill and lost his voice so we were unable to record the episode that should be coming out this week.To make up for it, we are releasing an episode of the usually-Patreon-only I Am A Wizard for you to listen to. It's the one from April this year and features a magical offer from our listener who is, apparently, a wizard - USBinPRL. But we begin with a message from Bec, who can still speak.If you want more wizarding silliness then join our Patreon at patreon.com/aproblemsquared - you'll get access to all the past episodes of I Am A Wizard, a new wizard episode every month, and early access to all episodes of A Problem Squared!Normal Service will be resumed in Two Weeks!

Discover the quirks of aphantasia and playful memory techniques while connecting with humorous tales from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Enjoy lively banter about the geometry of freeze pops and their unique tetrahedral shape, alongside delightful discussions on Malaysian snacks. The hosts share sentimental stories about fan gifts and decode a binary message of affection. Blend in a competitive yet lighthearted game of Battleship, and you have a delightful mix of humor, mathematics, and community spirit!

Discover the optimum strategies to win at The Price Is Right while enjoying a guessing game around quirky product prices! Hear hilarious anecdotes from an IKEA-themed competition that sparks chaos and comedic banter. Dive deep into the fascinating world of dental development, where amusing stories about split baby teeth turn informative. Plus, the hosts share their fun experiences at the Edinburgh Fringe, balancing humor with audience engagement, all wrapped up in lighthearted camaraderie!

🍆 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 Whittle, Chella Quint OBE, and Linus Boman.Daan’s paper in the American Journal of Archaeology which cites this very podcast: doi.org/10.1086/735650 The world’s largest enlarged letter: https://www.pleasedonotbend.co.uk/categories/world-recordIf you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can get tickets to see Bec here: https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:5884/And you can get tickets see to Matt here: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-mathsHere’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/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6If 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.

🃏 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, and our chips ‘n’ dips experiment!For all your homemade snacking needs:https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tortillashttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/homemade-tortilla-chips-guacamole-charred-tomato-salsaIt’s 5 o’chop Somewhere! (Really excellent work from Eve)https://www.instagram.com/p/DKZSlCGIdCZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== And some info about Aphantasia as mentioned by Keith…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AphantasiaAnd synaesthesia…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SynesthesiaIf you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can get tickets to see Bec here:https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:5884/And you can get tickets see to Matt here:https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-mathsHere’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarterhttps://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmaths 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.