A Problem Squared

Episode 101 - The Big Banana

Take a look at The Big Banana...

Some further reading on BIG THINGS - 

https://www.spottobooks.com.au/shop/p/bigthings

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/figure/10.1080/14443058.2022.2144928 

101 = Squear Data and The Big Banana (in an Aussie accent)

🔺 What are the most “interesting” years?

🍌 Bec goes big on Big Things

🎉 When Party Tricks Go Wrong

🔢 And there's some numerical AOB

Here’s Max-matics’ video that Matt mentioned - Turning a 2024 Ball Pyramid in to a 2025 Ball Square for NYE 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXUlKCIgV8U

Some further reading on the 2025 maths - 2025-01-18 13:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post

I Am A Wizard - January 2025

Thanks to 'Zard Fred Rosenberger (and also sorry to 'Zard Fred Rosenberger)

100 = Orchestral Seats and Calculator Beef

To celebrate A Problem Squared’s 100th episode…

🎼 What is the least popular instrument in an orchestra? 

🍎 Matt is appalled. 

🔮 Another unplanned, unexpected mystery segment! 

💼 And the business briefcase is (briefly) open. 

A big thank you to Katie Steckles for her brilliant contributions to this episode. You can find more from her on her website: ...

100 = Orchestral Seats and Calculated Beef - Visual Things

01. The most annoying advert in the world according to Bec.

02 + 03. Bec and Matt's favourite calculators.

To make sense of this random collection of images OBVIOUSLY you need listen to the 100th episode of A Problem Squared.

I Am A Wizard - December 2024

Thanks to 'Zard Rae for the conundrum - it was received loud and clear!

Episode 099 - Visual Things

A really meaningful new episode of A Problem Squared is out now for your listening pleasure.

In THIS episode:

- What single word in the English Language has the most different meanings?

- Is the most consumed media of all time a holiday movie or song?

- There’s some Any Other Business!

- Battleships continues.

2. Bec gets a 'free' gift...

3. We bed down and get comfy...

4. And - as we head into the festive season - there's some C...

099 = Most Watched Films and Homonyms

099 = Most Watched Films and Homonyms

✍️ What single word in the English Language has the most different meanings? 

📺 Is the most consumed media of all time a holiday movie or song?

🗞 There’s some Any Other Business! 

⚔️ Battleships continues.  

If you want to find out more about the Royal Flying Doctor Service, do that here:  2024-12-07 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Episode 098 - Visual Things

We have something new for you – it’s the latest, very sparkly, episode of A Problem Squared!

 1 & 2 - Intrusive Thought Stickers / Laughing At Warnings

 3 – Something Old and Something Borrowed (and very pretty) - https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/power-image-royal-aristocratic-tiaras/the-spenc...

098 = Something Blue and Diamond Birthdays Too

098 = Something Blue and Diamond Birthdays Too

💙What are the most extreme examples of something old, something blue, something borrowed, something new? 

 💎What’s up with diamond birthdays?

 🔥A new special one-time bonus section from Matt.

 💼And a look into the business briefcase. 

For the Diana Spencer Tiara, look no further: 2024-11-23 16:37:56 +0000 UTC View Post

Episode 097

Ring Ring! Ring Ring! The BRAND NEW episode of A Problem Squared is on the line for you now!

1. The Big Tractor

2. Bec’s excellent rotary phone handbag (which really is excellent until you realise the numbers are the wrong way round…)

3.  This year’s must have for all phone phreakers

097 = Number of Maps & Numbered Pads

🗺 Are there enough OS maps to cover Great Britain?

0️⃣ Why does zero come after nine on a mobile phone? 

📰 And, of course, some AOB!

If you want to see Bec’s friend Amy’s summary of accessibility in Thorpe Park and theme parks more generally, head on over to her instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/longcovidrockstar/

Here is a picture of The Big Tractor: 2024-11-09 16:48:48 +0000 UTC View Post

I'm A Wizard November 2024

Thanks to Wizard Naxxfish for this month's conundrum!

096 = Movie Pairs and Moving Flares

🎞 Why would competing studios release movies in the same year that have the same concept or plot? 

🔭 Why are we seeing the Aurora Borealis in the UK? 

📈 Business of an any other nature. 

If you want to have a listen to Bec on Tom Scott’s podcast ‘Lateral’ you can do that here, at some point soon: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TthQOE4Fx6gBPW8l48cfN ...

095 = Friday Fears and Disco Spheres

 🍀 Does the 13th really fall more frequently on Friday? 

 How do you make a giant disco ball wearable?   

 🍩 And we have some any other doughness. 

If you want to fin...

I'm A Wizard October 2024

Thank you to this month's top 'Zard Ira Sanborn!

094 = The First Podcasts and Votes Precast

💿 What did the first ever podcast sound like?

🗳 How do you REALLY lose an election in the US? 

📰 Business will be closed, and opened.

Thank you to Emily for the Maths mittens! To see pictures of those, head over to APS socials. 

You can see the incredible Agree to Disagree podcast pages from 1999 here:  

• 2024-09-29 00:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post

ULTIMATE tic-tac-toe

Is this the only way to make the game fun?!

Matt's Giro helmets: The Found & Forgotten

A cursed Lincoln Penny?

This is the worn penny Bec picked up for Matt at the toy museum in London.

093 = Game Solutions and Neil Distributions

⭕ Circle Can Tic-Tac-Toe ever be fun? 

🤏 What is the smallest Neil called? 

🗞 There’s some Any Other Business! 

⚔️ Battleships continues.  

If you want to read the works referenced by Matt in his tic-tac-toe / naughts and crosses problem, take a look below: 

• Solo Noughts and Crosses, James Grime: h...

  2024-09-16 06:24:16 +0000 UTC View Post

092 = Broken Hands and Alexander's Bands

🌈 How many colours are really in a rainbow?

🕰 How often is a broken clock is right? 

💼 The Any Other Business briefcase is open. Briefly. 

🏴‍ And we have a NEW POST CREDITS easter egg. 

To hear more about the brilliant and terrible Emily In Paris premier, listen to this episode: h...

I'm A Wizard September 2024

THE WIZARDS ARE BACK

Thank you to today's Zard Chris Schwarz for sending this in.

091 = Optimal Darts and Smelling Sharks

🎯 What is the optimal layout for a dart board? 

🦈 How soon after a cut does a shark smell your blood? 

📜 And there’s some AYE-YOOO-BEEEE.

To see the Percy Arrangement mentioned by Matt follow this link: ⁠https://www.globaldarts.de/globalDartsEN/spor...

090 = Washing Machine Lies and Lincoln Penny Highs

🧺 Why is the cycle time on my washing machines always wrong?

🪙 How long will it take to sell 400 Lincoln memorial pennies for $20,000? 

🔔 We have DINGS! 

🧳 And the business briefcase is open! 

DISCLAIMER: You might hear a slight change in tone on Matt's audio at points throughout, that's back up audio which sounds different.

If you want to find out more about the IMO, or International Mathematics Olympics, you can...

More clarification on what Dog legs and possibly arms.

Dinglett Help.

For help with Bec's dinglett, here is a vet approved and very scientifical image of SKYLAB THE DOG.

I Am A Wizard! JULY 2024

Hello to all 'zards and other cards.

It's time for another wizarding offer.

089 = Venomous Snakes and Doggy Legs

On THIS episode...

🐍 If you pooled up all the snake venom in the world would it be enough to kill all the non-immune mammals?

👢 Do dogs have two arms, or do we have four legs?

📜 And we open the business briefcase. 

If you want to know more about lizard sampling, do that here: ‘Hierarchical distance sampling to estimate population sizes of common lizards across a desert ecoregion’: 2024-07-14 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post

Sup' Zards?

🚨 A CALL OUT FOR ZARDS HIGH AND LOW 🚨

We need your Wizarding offers. You are magic after all.

Put them in the comments below!

Or of you want to read the offer out yourself (and be included in the show) send your ZardNotes to: <producer@aproblemsquared.com>