
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.
Latest episodes

Nov 20, 2023 • 49min
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 briefcase.
If you want to participate in a MathsJam near you, you can find your local event right here: https://www.mathsjam.com/
And if you are a child, or an adult who has children who are fans of the show, tell THEM to send in their problems for our kids only episode - coming soon!
Don’t forget to tag the problem with the word ‘Kidition’, it’ll help us find it!
If you want to commission a cool bum-bag to support a good cause, Bec mentions Second Stitch Melbourne in her dinglett.
You can find a link for them here: https://www.secondstitch.org.au/
Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com
If you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram, and of course, Patreon.

Nov 6, 2023 • 57min
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 the Reasonable / Unreasonable debate, and watch Bec in her element painting a wardrobe, follow this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyJwjphMesl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
And if you want to see more from the colour theorist, Peter Donahue, who consulted on Bec's problem, find him on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.pete.repeat/?hl=en
For Martin Bellander's incredible colour graph, follow this link: https://blog.martinbellander.com/post/115411125748/the-colors-of-paintings-blue-is-the-new-orange
Please do send us your problems and solutions to the website: aproblemsquared.com.
If you want more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter, Instagram. and of course Patreon.

Oct 24, 2023 • 54min
071 = Snap Probability and Zombie Mobility
Discover the quirky intersection of probability and gaming as the hosts analyze how using two packs of cards in Snap changes the likelihood of matches. Ever wondered if zombies can ride bicycles? They delve into this whimsical question with humor and cultural references. Plus, the excitement builds around Brussels Comic Con, and personal anecdotes about holiday math and Christmas card designs add to the festive spirit. Enjoy their light-hearted banter and insights into community support through Patreon!

6 snips
Oct 16, 2023 • 59min
070 = Speaking Profanities and Lettered Localities
The podcast covers topics like rude words in other languages, letter positions in English words, mistaken translations, flying planes on the German autobahn, printable platonic solid doorknobs, Viking mugs, and solving kids' problems.

6 snips
Sep 25, 2023 • 47min
069 = Tiling Planes and Driving Planes
Topics discussed: optimal math-based pattern for decorating a home, flying a plane on the autobahn, art installation symbolizing time, organizing a game of hide and seek in a park, math-themed home decorations, non-repeating tiling patterns, mathematician decorations, applying wings to a car, counting dice in a jar.

Sep 12, 2023 • 32min
068 = Big Feastival and Bike Intervals
The hosts discuss their festival experience, including strategies for dealing with rain and meeting famous people. They also explore the benefits of eBikes for commuting, address carbon emissions savings of cycling compared to driving, and analyze carbon dioxide produced when cycling. Additionally, they analyze strawberry production and contemplate if there could be exactly one strawberry per person. They also explore the difference between the imagined and actual definition of a ton, and express gratitude towards Patreon supporters.

Aug 28, 2023 • 53min
067 = Line Times and Wide Words
Topics discussed include aligning of time, longest one-syllable word, music recommendations, calculating line minutes on a clock, ham sandwich theorem, crossing points of clock hands, words with 'ding' and 'time', progress update and goal setting, starting from the beginning.

Aug 14, 2023 • 59min
066 = Strawberry Yields and Football Fields
In this slightly sports adjacent episode... 🍓 Are there more strawberries or old men on earth? ⚽️ Is Melbourne Rectangular Stadium more or less rectangular than the average football stadium? 🏆 Did Austrailia beat Denmark at the Women's World Cup? Find out here! 🖇 And a healthy dose of Any Other Business. You can watch Bec's striker skills in action on CBBC's Saturday Mash Up, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001pnkl/saturday-mashup-live-series-6-episode-6 Here is a link to WayBackMachine used by Bec to research her problem: https://archive.org/ If you'd like some fresh insights into the Global Fresh Strawberry Industry, you can find that here (2022 - 2023): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/fresh-strawberry-market If you too want exclusive access to the latest Magic Square breakthroughs follow this link: https://numbers-magic.com/?p=9988 Here are Ian's joke specifications for fire hoses, adapted from an old set of joke pipe specs dating back to at least the 80s: https://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/87/14917.23.html 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.

Jul 31, 2023 • 35min
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.

4 snips
Jul 17, 2023 • 46min
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.