---
title: When maths marketing goes wrong.
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYjD9cpxT18
source: youtube-com-standupmaths
published: 2026-02-23T16:05:33Z
updated: 2026-08-26T09:30:52Z
first_seen: 2026-09-08T10:17:10.166315Z
authors:
- Stand-up Maths
summary: "Come see me on tour to get your mathematically dubious cereal boxes signed. https://standupmaths.com/shows\n\nYou can also find me talking about other unreleased video topics at An Evening of Unnecessary Detail. https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/show/an-evening-of-unnecessary-detail/ \n\nCheck out the full correspondence with Kellogg's on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/s/rRbfNVF4aa\n\nAnd MindYourDecisions video looking at the surface area problem: https://youtu.be/0qT_h84o7JI?si=y3ALapozUGMM2kpJ\n\nThe paper determining spheres are the most volume-efficient 3D shape is available here: https://www.ams.org/journals/bull/1978-84-06/S0002-9904-1978-14553-4/S0002-9904-1978-14553-4.pdf\n\nHuge thanks to my Patreon supporters. They are the delicious donut manifold that surrounds me. https://www.patreon.com/standupmaths\n\nCORRECTIONS\n- Some parentheses float up into their index at 0:46 and 5:18. Blame the sugar high.\n- At 8:11 I say Kellogg's don't make any loop-based cereal, but they do make Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.\n- Let me know if you spot anything else! \n\nFilming and editing by Alex Genn-Bash\nAdditional filming by Truman Hanks\nVoiceover by Tom Crowley\nWritten and performed by Matt Parker\nContent wrangling by Rhys Jones\nProduction and cake baking by Nicole Jacobus\nMusic by Howard Carter\nDesign by Simon Wright and Adam Robinson\n\nMATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician\nWebsite: http://standupmaths.com/"
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Come see me on tour to get your mathematically dubious cereal boxes signed. https://standupmaths.com/shows

You can also find me talking about other unreleased video topics at An Evening of Unnecessary Detail. https://festivalofthespokennerd.com/show/an-evening-of-unnecessary-detail/

Check out the full correspondence with Kellogg's on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/s/rRbfNVF4aa

And MindYourDecisions video looking at the surface area problem: https://youtu.be/0qT\_h84o7JI?si=y3ALapozUGMM2kpJ

The paper determining spheres are the most volume-efficient 3D shape is available here: https://www.ams.org/journals/bull/1978-84-06/S0002-9904-1978-14553-4/S0002-9904-1978-14553-4.pdf

Huge thanks to my Patreon supporters. They are the delicious donut manifold that surrounds me. https://www.patreon.com/standupmaths

CORRECTIONS

- Some parentheses float up into their index at 0:46 and 5:18. Blame the sugar high.
- At 8:11 I say Kellogg's don't make any loop-based cereal, but they do make Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
- Let me know if you spot anything else!

Filming and editing by Alex Genn-Bash\
Additional filming by Truman Hanks\
Voiceover by Tom Crowley\
Written and performed by Matt Parker\
Content wrangling by Rhys Jones\
Production and cake baking by Nicole Jacobus\
Music by Howard Carter\
Design by Simon Wright and Adam Robinson

MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician\
Website: http://standupmaths.com/