Except the 17 square version holds less syrup than the 16 square version because you need to reduce the size of the squares to fit more of them.

If you take the original 16 squares and cut them each in half, you can have 32 squares. Doctorate now, please.

If the squares are half the size, you get 4x the number of squares, assuming you’re measuring side length and not area.

Oh hey sorry I didn’t know you went to school for this shit. Fine. you make the waffles.

One square is the optimal waffle if you’re optimizing for syrup volume alone.

If you serve the syrup in a cup, then the syrup to waffle ratio is infinite.