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Okay, math fans, in case you're just joining us.
This season, Molly and I have been promoted within the Problem Solvers.
We've also changed schools but, most importantly, we're trying to stop a new group of bad guys called the Power Hungry Pogs, who are even more devious than the Troublemaking Trolls.
So far we've discovered.
The pogs use moles to infiltrate different groups, so they can take over from the inside.
And while we haven't been able to uncover any moles just yet, we've got a growing list of suspects.
Hopefully it's just a matter of time until we figure out who the moles are and what the pogs are up to.
On Mysteries About True Histories.
Yes!
Two more days till winter break.
I'm going to eat all the cookies.
I'm going to drink all the hot cocoa by the fire.
No school means no reason to bundle up and leave the house.
Unless it's for fun or food or both.
Two weeks off, that's 14 days.
16 waking hours per day means 14 times 16 224 waking hours for eating lounging, relaxing and not solving any problems.
Jeez, Molly, don't jinx us.
Um, Max?
I think a package just fell down your chimney.
Good thing we didn't have a fire going.
Well, I don't know if Santa is a problem solver, but I don't think this mysterious package is a present.
It is wrapped in candy cane paper.
I'll open it, but maybe stand back.
Oh, it's just a cracker inside.
Like a saltine?
No, but I understand your confusion.
It's the British kind, see?
They're popular in the UK around the holidays.
Looks like a giant hard candy, but when you pull on either end... Here, pull...
Yep, it makes a popping sound.
Then, kind of like a mini piñata, confetti pops out.
I noticed.
It's in my hair.
Even better, there's something hidden inside.
It could be a little toy, or some candy, a paper crown, and there's usually a joke of some kind.
How fun!
Hmm, looks like we got a fidget spinner.
There's also a note.
I shine bright but never speak.
I'm part of the fun that all will seek.
I fill the air but I'm not unique.
What am I?
I shine bright but never speak.
So shiny but silent.
I'm part of the fun that all will seek?
Well, that's pretty vague.
Sounds like it could be a party or something.
Maybe a concert?
Maybe.
What's the next line?
I feel the air, but I'm not unique.
Beats me.
Wait, what if it's like tinsel?
You know, like stuff you put on your Christmas tree?
Or confetti.
That's fun.
And messy?
Speaking of, I should vacuum this up before my mom gets on my case about it.
Keep looking for clues.
Wait, wait!
Max, stop!
Stop cleaning?
Literally no one has ever told me to clean less.
Don't worry.
We'll clean it up.
But first, look.
The confetti from the cracker thing is letters and numbers.
Whoa.
Good eye, Molly.
They've got to mean something, right?
Everything means something when you're a problem solver.
Let's see.
I spy with my little eye.
R, P, another P, another P, an M. There's a number four, an H, two Ys.
Hmm.
Let's try putting all the vowels together.
A, A, O. Over here, I've got T-O-D-Y.
This is like a glittery game of Scrabble.
Does parry mean anything?
Parry?
A-R-Y?
Nope, not a word.
If you had two R's, you could parry.
P-A-R-R-Y, which is a common fencing term meaning to defend against a weapon attack.
En garde!
Okay, relax.
I don't think this has anything to do with fencing.
But wait, if you add the second A to your T-O-D-Y, you can spell today.
Don't forget the four.
Right.
So we've got parry today 4 p.m.
Ooh, I bet I vacuumed up a T. That would turn parry into party.
Ah-ha!
Party today, 4 p.m.
That also works with the riddle, what's left?
Let's see.
We still have a Q, a P, and H left over.
I think you vacuumed up an S, too.
Party today, 4 p.m.
Q-P-H-S?
Q-H-S-P, P-H-S-Q, H-P-S-Q, P-H-S-Q.
Aha!
That's it!
P-S-H-Q?
Pay six handsome quarters?
No, PSHQ, Problem Solvers HQ, Problem Solvers Headquarters.
Oh, yeah, that sounds right.
But also, if Aunt Em wanted to invite us to a party, she could have just texted me.
They're Problem Solvers, Max.
Riddles, puzzles, and problems are in their DNA.
I know, I know, but now my brain is tired.
So much for having a chill day.
Parties can be chill.
It's 3 p.m. now.
I'll run home and find something cute to wear.
Wait, we have to dress up?
It's a party, Max.
Fine, but after that, it's nothing but sweatpants for two weeks.
Not the same ones, I hope.
We'll see.
Be back in 30.
I'll be here.
Wow, Max, you clean up pretty well.
Eh, it was just a little vacuuming.
No, I meant your clothes.
I didn't even know you owned a suit.
Oh, yeah, it only comes out for special occasions.
And since you were dressing up... Speaking of, you look pretty nice yourself.
Thanks.
Ready to roll?
Let's do it.
Problem Solver HQ, here we come!
I remember that one time I had to ride along with Genghis Khan to stop the trolls from stealing the Great Wall of China.
You know, those Huns do everything on horseback.
Man, my rump was sore.
But then Myrtle Murgatroyd over here showed up to help me, but she was wearing full samurai armor.
Wait, samurai?
That's the wrong country and the wrong era.
That's what was so funny about it.
There I was trying to blend in, and here comes Myrtle.
Oh man, we had a bunch of Huns on horseback going, who's this person?
And what the heck is she wearing?
My glasses had broken during time travel, and I misread the riddle.
Whoopsie.
Aunt Em, you made a mistake.
Yep.
Anyone can make a mistake.
Even me.
Wow.
That almost makes you seem like a real person.
I love it.
Okay, okay.
Enough talking about my goof-ups.
Would you kids like some punch and cookies?
Did someone say cookies?
Ooh, I can use some cookies, too.
I love cookies.
Be right back.
I gotta say, Max, our problem-solving friend from the freezer aisle seems a little overenthusiastic.
I noticed that, too.
And we were wondering if someone in the problem solvers could be a mole.
Maybe his over-the-top act is just a cover.
I say we keep an eye and ear on him.
For sure.
Okay, my young problem solvers, step right up.
We're going to play a little game called Pin the Crime on the Stooge.
Um, I'm familiar with Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but this one, not so much.
Seems pretty problem-solver specific.
Throughout history, as you know, bad people have tried to frame other people for their crimes.
The people who were framed became known as stooges, patsies, lackeys, fall guys... Or gals.
Right.
Either way, it's a game as old as time.
And speaking of games, how do you play this one?
Let me guess.
It's a set of historical criminals and a set of wrongfully accused stooges, and our job is to match them up right.
Not exactly.
Since all the problem solvers already know who all these shady suspects are, that wouldn't be very hard or fun.
Instead, you'll select a famous face, do a blindfolded spin, and try to march toward their accuser.
Oh, so it is pin the tail on the donkey.
Nope.
It's pin the tail on the stooge.
If you get it right, you get a prize.
That seems easy enough.
Except if you get it wrong, you will have falsely accused or framed someone for a whole different decade, century or continent.
Oh yeah!
Wow, these cookies are solving all my problems!
I'm not sure we all share the same sense of humor.
I hear ya.
Say, Aunt Em, any chance we can play a different game?
Say, what's going on with that number tumbler over there?
Ooh, this one is a classic Wild West casino-type game.
All you have to do is put a piece of candy, which represents your bet, on a number from 1 to 60.
If your number comes up, you win five pieces of candy per every one you bet.
Ooh!
Ooh!
Candy, I'm in.
You can also bet candy on odds or evens.
Or on primes.
Multiples of three.
Or multiples of four.
Okay, it's a lot of math, but this is something I can wrap my head around.
Chances are one in 60 will get the numbers exactly.
One in 30 they'll be even or odd.
How many multiples of four?
Hmm.
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60.
How many is that?
I lost count when I ran out of fingers.
There are 16 and 60, or 4 and 16.
As for multiples of 3, you've got 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30.
So 10 and 30, double that gives you 20 for 60.
20 out of 60?
That's 1 in 3 odds.
That's pretty good.
Of course, you could have just gotten the answer by dividing 60 by 3 for the odds and 60 by 4 for the evens.
Oh my gosh, Aunt Em is right.
I'm slipping.
See?
Nobody's perfect.
So, you gotta place your bet.
Sure.
What do you think, Max?
Multiples of 4 or even 3 are pretty good odds.
Of course, 5 numbers between 1 and 60 are multiples of both 3 and 4.
Wait, let me see if I can get them.
Um, 12, 24, 36, 48, and, duh, 60.
Well done!
You deserve a piece of candy.
If we didn't need it to bet with.
But wait, don't sleep on the primes.
Ah, I love primes so much.
Right.
You can bet on prime numbers.
Those are numbers that are only divisible by one in themselves.
That's right.
Can you name them?
I forget.
Is one considered a prime number?
The answer is no.
One is only divisible by one number, and prime numbers need to be divisible by two numbers.
So one is not a prime number.
Got it.
Let's see.
Between 1 and 60, the prime numbers are... 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 30.
31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59.
Which makes 17 prime numbers between 1 and 60.
Wow, you truly are a wild woman, Aunt Em.
Sorry, I wasn't kidding when I said I love prime numbers.
You sure weren't.
24!
Hey, I won!
I just turned one candy into five.
Should I double down, Max?
Max?
Max?
Earth to Max.
Come in, Max.
Sorry, I was thinking.
What were you thinking?
Look around.
What do you see?
Um, problem solvers getting into the holiday spirit?
And what else?
Um, problem solvers playing games.
Woohoo!
I just pinned the tail on the stooge.
I own this game.
That's right.
Playing games.
Is that bad?
It is if they're playing games on us.
What do you mean?
I mean, someone at this problem-solver party has been sending us on wild goose chases every time we get close to discovering what the pogs are up to.
I know we thought that, but there's no way.
Of course there's a way!
That's what moles do!
I don't believe it.
Believe it.
No, Max.
No.
Yes, Molly.
Yes.
I'm going to bet primes this time.
Molly, forget the stupid game.
You have to face the facts.
One of the problem solvers is a mole.
Max, what did you just say?
Nothing.
I was just talking to Molly.
I heard what he said.
He said one of the problem solvers is a mole.
Max, how could you say such a thing?
Um, Molly, want to help me out here?
Well, like any good problem, solver Max was just thinking through all the possibilities and he came up with a theory.
Yes?
What is your theory, Max?
You know, um, what if the moles had infiltrated the problem solvers?
Oh yeah?
On what evidence, my dude?
Well, like we said, it's just a theory.
Don't scoff.
We've been doing some independent research.
Independent research?
All assignments must go through official problem solver dispatch.
Were you using your time radio for personal ventures?
You know that's strictly forbidden by the Problem Solver Code.
We are a nation of codes.
Well, yes, but we've done significant research.
You mean spying?
Well, um, yes, sort of.
I see.
And who have you been spying on?
Anyone we thought could be moles.
Charlene, our teachers Mr. A and Mr. Z, my soccer coach. but none of them turned out to be a mole.
But the curious thing is, every time we would get close to the pogs, a new assignment would come in from the problem solvers and we'd have to stop what we were doing and go off on a random mission that only led to a dead end.
I see.
And you thought that was a deliberate attempt by the problem solvers to thwart you?
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
Molly, I'm really disappointed in you.
Hey, it wasn't just her.
I know.
But for some reason, I expected her to be the voice of reason.
I'm sorry.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
How do we know our theory is wrong?
Maybe there is a mole among us.
Wow.
These two aren't even full-time problem solvers and they're accusing us of being moles.
Kids today, am I right?
That's a very serious accusation, Max.
I hope you have more than just a hunch to back up what you say.
Um, are there any more of those cookies left?
The two of you have significantly violated the problem solver code and will have to face the consequences.
Consequences?
Until further notice.
You're both suspended.
Suspended?
Please, turn in your time radio.
But...
But how will we get home?
I'll send you back.
Great, Max.
Just great.
Well, on the bright side, we'll get to enjoy a more peaceful winter break.
This episode of Mysteries About True Histories was written by Libby Ward and voiced by Dexter N Jermio Molly Smith, Sheila Morris and Adam Tex Davis.
Original music by Brian Suarez.
Our associate producer is Max Kamaski.
Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn.
Mysteries About True Histories was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Kolber, and is an Atomic Audio production.
