A Problem Squared

Matt Parker, Bec Hill
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Apr 10, 2023 • 48min

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.
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Mar 27, 2023 • 46min

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.
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Mar 14, 2023 • 49min

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.
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Feb 27, 2023 • 50min

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.
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Feb 13, 2023 • 40min

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.
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Feb 6, 2023 • 55min

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.
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Jan 16, 2023 • 51min

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 Joel & John of 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.
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Jan 2, 2023 • 59min

050 = Nearly an Hour of Mirth About Places Called Perth

Comparing the cities of Perth, Australia and Perth, Scotland. The hosts discuss the isolation and redevelopment happening in Perth. The speakers explore the concept of a carillon and play Waltzing Matilda on the bells. Scaling up human DNA to the size of a tower and its potential height and collisions. Discussing the number of steps and design changes in tall structures. Scaling the DNA tower to reach the International Space Station, the moon, Mars, and Venus.
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Dec 19, 2022 • 55min

049 = Grand Theft Auto Five and Girlfriend Digit Size

Topics include: How to get a billion dollars fast in GTA 5, sneaky ways to measure a ring finger, the movement of Earth's magnetic poles, optimizing wealth accumulation in GTA Five, techniques for determining ring sizes, a formula for walking and catching a train, and a delicious snack substitute from a listener.
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Dec 5, 2022 • 49min

048 = Satellite Applications and Website Calculations

The podcast covers repurposing satellite dishes, quick calculations, a Christmas card giveaway, Perth-related problems, and a taste test of Cheetos Crunchy and Cheddar Jalapeno.

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