Episodes
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🎶 Why are songs easier to remember than sentences?
⚙️ Can we come up with new names (that meet strict criteria) for leader/follower motors?
🌟 And it’s a glitzy, toothy, clackety AOB
As discussed in the intro, here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:
https://youtu.be/nGtVej1Qx5Y
And here's the link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/standupmaths/moon-pi-were-going-to-calculate-on-the-moon
And head to our socials to see the Corris Railway Traverser!
For tickets to Bec Hill’s Pick ‘n’ Mix at the Museum of Comedy, London on 19/06/2025, go here: https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873654374
For some glittery further reading, here’s that NYT article https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/style/glitter-factory.html
If 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 to see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
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.
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🎲What’s the best design for non-traditional dice?
📄 What should you call paperwork that doesn’t involve paper?
🙋And it’s more a comment than a question in AOB
Head to our socials to see Matt’s excellent Angry Man In Local Newspaper photos.
If you’d like to peruse and purchase more dice variations, head here:
https://mathsgear.co.uk/collections/dice
If you have any paperlesspaperwork suggestions, join in here!
https://www.reddit.com/r/AProblemSquared/
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can get tickets to see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
And you can get tickets see Bec here:
https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:5884/
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.
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Missing episodes?
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4️⃣ What would it look like to be trapped in a 4D world?
🥰 What is the meaning of marriage?
✨Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get AOBusy
Head to our socials to see some fantastic representations of 2D meets 3D meets 4D in fiction, some magical magic, and an alphabetically perfect travel route (for 40 days in 1990).
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can get tickets to see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
And you can get tickets see Bec here:
https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:5884/
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. -
🍻What’s the best way to politely tell a friend that they’ve had too much to drink?
🗞️ Is there a way to prove that something existed before a certain date?
❌And AOB brings us some friendly corrections…
A useful menu of alcoholic choices…
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
A hash of a DING!
1f2b352be3c09872b3e38083ec6f0d2b22615a99c5a446a03abf24430187c484
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
And Bec’s show will be onsale soon!
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 - including the pictures mentioned herein! - you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
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🧱How many megabytes are actually in a gigabyte?
🌕There have been some Moon Developments…
😎And AOB will bring a little sunshine into your life
Here is NASA’s Press Release about navigation on the moon:
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/nasa-successfully-acquires-gps-signals-on-moon/
And some further reading from Matt:
https://www.gpsworld.com/lugre-receiver-captures-gnss-signals-in-lunar-orbit/
https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/icg/2024/WG-B_Lunar_PNT_Jun24/LunarPNT_Jun24_01_03.pdf
The Biggest Bike!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG4Gbrys3NL/?igsh=dTBqeG0wZGVpcXhs
Prawn News!
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/cyclone-alfred-live-updates-brisbane-south-east-queensland-braces-for-first-direct-impact-from-storm-in-50-years-northern-nsw-prepares-for-flooding-20250305-p5lh6c.html?post=p58aa2
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
And Bec’s show will be onsale soon!
Make sure you look after your teeth, kids...
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, show the podcast to 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. -
🗺️ Is there an alphabetically perfect travel route?
🪵 What can be done with karate chopped wood?
🤙 And we ride the crest of the Any Other Business wave
You can find the data-basis for the alphabetically perfect travel route here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_number_of_land_borders
Here are some of Bec’s aesthetically pleasing solutions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JubeLHRYl80
https://www.myveryeducatedmother.com/2015/12/turn-broken-karate-boards-into-coat-rack.html
https://www.ellemariehome.com/upcycle-karate-break-boards-into-wood-signs/#google_vignette
And you can find Brendan’s magical web app here:
https://bren.app/podcasteveryday/
If you’re heading to the Edinburgh Fringe, you can see Matt here:
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/getting-triggy-it-matt-parker-does-maths
And Bec’s show will be onsale soon!
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, show the podcast to 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. -
📆 When is the next Prime Number Day?
🤣 What is the oldest joke?
🪨 And we get to the rock bottom of Any Other Business
You can find Matt’s Divisibility Rules video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pLz8wEQYkA
You can read more about the world’s oldest joke here:
https://www.wbur.org/endlessthread/2022/08/05/sumerian-joke-one
And you can get your Philogelols right here:
https://archive.org/details/philogelos-the-laugh-addict-the-worlds-oldest-joke-book/page/n21/mode/2up
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, show the podcast to 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.
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📃 Is a sheet of A-45 paper big enough to wrap the earth?
✏️ Why do we still call pencil graphite lead?
👔 There’s business to attend to.
You can find Matt and Hannah’s protractor up the shard video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckcdqlo3pYc&ab_channel=Stand-upMaths
Here’s Matt’s Truncatable Prime Pencil: https://mathsgear.co.uk/products/truncatable-prime-pencil?srsltid=AfmBOorhZ6qk_IAhKnCjtjoVM3wM-GXMTaFporL13aTjdOokjGG_hkxY
And the oldest known pencil in the world: https://www.penciltalk.org/2021/02/worlds-oldest-pencil
If you want to know more about that 1889 World Fair and that luxury yellow pencil you can do that here: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-little-known-reason-pencils-yellow
Here is the link to David’s MIT Maze turned Sudoku, Go check it out, it’s very cool: https://sudokupad.app/arbp91du01
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, show the podcast to 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. -
🤫 Which synonyms are Caesar ciphers of each other?
🎨 Bec and Matt attempt to help a listener decorate their home.
💼 The tax business briefcase is wide open.
⚔️ And battleships heats up.
It’s time to go see ‘Bec Hill: Guess Who's Bec, Bec Again?’ at The Adelaide Fringe! https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-guess-who-s-bec-bec-again-bec-hill-s-bec-tell-a-friend-af2025
You can see Matt Live! https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/tickets/
Here are just some of the sources that inspired Bec’s answer to Paul’s problem:
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/tiny-seattle-apartment-bed-ceiling-thats-part-makes-smart-home/https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/saving-space-4-5e43ab2209c96-jpeg__700.jpghttps://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1552627931/laptop-desk-designed-for-lying-down?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_au_en_au_a-electronics_and_accessories&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiA2JG9BhAuEiwAH_zf3h029YOcWlhpb2hPKJIRRlzC875u1Xd05jQ5wcB1pKVfiPHBIgyWSBoCSsAQAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_22104612603_176942312567_728668009637_pla-315906365651_c__1552627931enau_102845289&utm_custom2=22104612603&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA2JG9BhAuEiwAH_zf3h029YOcWlhpb2hPKJIRRlzC875u1Xd05jQ5wcB1pKVfiPHBIgyWSBoCSsAQAvD_BwEhttps://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/N4OkvQNSSYkvAIQvyEpZjg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/architectural_digest_422/b0e714e92e546a10087be8044b839f94And The World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things: http://www.worldslargestthings.com/mobilemuseum.htm
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
If you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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.
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✅ What’s the best way to leave your mark?
🗓️ Can Saturday Night Live be on Every Day?
📍 And there are some big locations in AOB
Top Marks: https://neatnik.net/steganographr/#results
SNL Spreadsheet: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i9leqlafx0orjfp6l8a6t/weekend_whatdate.xlsx?rlkey=vetpi2qg9etbb35jq0zculjt1&e=1&st=q5vl7052&dl=0
Big Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8kf2XcYPXWnqGqn88
See Matt Live! https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/tickets/
See Bec Live! https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/bec-hill-guess-who-s-bec-bec-again-bec-hill-s-bec-tell-a-friend-af2025
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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 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 https://aperiodical.com/2025/01/numerical-coincidences-for-2025/
It’s a banger - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJS3xnD7Mus
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
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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. -
Hello you wonderful listener,
Welcome to a new year. 2025 - has a nice ring to it doesn't it?
This is a short announcement to say that there will be a very short feed break - just an episode or two, don't worry - to allow us all rest for the first two weeks of January.
Matt will tell you everything you need to know in his very organised PSA. Have a listen.
Thank you for your continuted support and understanding. We love you very much.
Bec and Matt.
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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: https://www.katiesteckles.co.uk/index.html, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stecks?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor, or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/katiesteckles.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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. -
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: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/nswact/visit/broken-hill-visitor-centre/
You can see the full contents of Bec’s new outback first aid kit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPuwoOtTFV8
If you want to learn more about WordNet (as mentioned in Matt’s problem) follow this link here: https://wordnet.princeton.edu/
If you’d like to see the trailer for what is apparently the most watched film of all time, you can do that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXqjcDchr14
And if you’d like to hear the most streamed song of all time, you can do that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHI8X4OXluQ&ab_channel=TheWeekndVEVO
Finally, IF you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer for Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
Perhaps you want to leave us a review, show the podcast to a friend or give us a rating? If you’d like to, please do that. It really helps.
AND if you want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn’t) you can connect with us and other fantastic listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and Discord.
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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:https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/power-image-royal-aristocratic-tiaras/the-spencer-tiara-r-s-garrard-1930s
Here’s an image of Ezra Jack Keats’ children’s story TheSnowy Day:
https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/childhood/item/11304.Selected from the millions of books that have been checked out of the library since 1895, Ezra Jack Keats’ children’s story The Snowy Day, described as a “charming, beautifully illustrated tale of a child enjoying the simple magic that snow brings to his city,” tops the list.
And, perhaps the best suggestion from Bec, the Blue‘Pantheon’ aka Meteor 3200:https://www.space.com/42236-weird-blue-asteroid-phaethon.html#:~:text=Asteroid%203200%20Phaethon%20is%20a,typical%20for%20comets%20than%20asteroids.
Finally, this is the Diamond Birthday Tik Tok trendmentioned in Matt’s dinglett: https://www.tiktok.com/@misshaleymichelle/video/7196331969838566702?lang=en
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinnedpost!
If you want to leave us a review, show the podcast to afriend or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.
Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared youcan connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.
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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: https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/08/giant-red-tractor-carnamah-wa-australias-big-things
You can watch a brilliant Phone Phreaking Documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FufYSx2_6Bg&ab_channel=RCW39RJ
Here’s that Numberphile vid about Phone Buttons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCSzjExvbTQ&ab_channel=Numberphile
And the 17 Designs That Bell Almost Used for the Layout of Telephone Buttons: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/08/the-17-designs-that-bell-almost-used-for-the-layout-of-telephone-buttons/279237/
Please send your problems and solutions into the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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 Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord. -
🎞 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
Their book can also be brought here! It’s really good: https://lateralcast.com/book/
To see a history of solar flare data going back to 1700, follow this link here: https://www.sidc.be/SILSO/ssngraphics
Please send your problems and solutions into the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you want (we’re not forcing anyone) to leave us a review, show the podcast to 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 Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord. -
🍀 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 find out more about the cardboard related event (called Number City!) Matt attended on Orkney Island, have a look at this link: https://oisf.org/fest-event/number-city/.
Do send your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you like, leave us a review, pass the podcast onto a friend or give us a rating! Every little helps.
If you want even more from A Problem Squared, you can find us onTwitter,Instagram, and on Discord.
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💿 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:
https://web.archive.org/web/19990914040650/http://www.thealph.com/agree/
https://web.archive.org/web/19991004035401/http://thealph.com/agree/about.shtml
There is also a file, but we don’t think it contains any data. Can someone help find an original review?
https://web.archive.org/web/19991103231714/http://thealph.com/agree/episodes/6x02.shtml
Do send your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you like, leave us a review, pass the podcast onto a friend or give us a rating! Every little helps.
If you want even more from A Problem Squared, you can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord -
⭕ 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: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10724117.2023.2168434 Tic-tac-tome, Willy Yoners: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tic-Tac-Autonomous-Playing-Book/dp/1594746877 A Knowledge-based Approach of Connect-Four The Game is Solved: White Wins, Victor Alis: https://disi.unitn.it/~montreso/asd/docs/connect4.pdf Is ultimate tic-tac-toe solved? https://www.joachim-breitner.de/blog/604-Ultimate_Tic_Tac_Toe_is_always_won_by_XPlease send your problems and solutions to the website: www.aproblemsquared.com.
If you’re on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on the ‘Sup ‘Zards’ pinned post!
And if you like, leave us a review, pass the podcast onto a friend or give us a rating! Every little helps.
If you want even more from A Problem Squared, you can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord
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