Rob Eastaway
@robeastaway.bsky.social
Author, speaker, Director of www.mathsinspiration.com, cricket-lover, dad. Friend of BBC R4's podcast More or Less.
In her SparxMaths homework, I watch a GCSE pupil being asked to fully expand the expression (3x + 5)^4 . To ensure she doesn't cheat with AI she has to answer correctly online AND write out all her workings on paper.
Sorry, this isn't maths, it's five minutes of pointless number-crunching.
Sorry, this isn't maths, it's five minutes of pointless number-crunching.
December 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In her SparxMaths homework, I watch a GCSE pupil being asked to fully expand the expression (3x + 5)^4 . To ensure she doesn't cheat with AI she has to answer correctly online AND write out all her workings on paper.
Sorry, this isn't maths, it's five minutes of pointless number-crunching.
Sorry, this isn't maths, it's five minutes of pointless number-crunching.
Top tip: If you're a bill poster, be careful to get the join in the right place.
Apply now for your Klarna "debt card".
[seen on LinkedIn]
Apply now for your Klarna "debt card".
[seen on LinkedIn]
December 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Top tip: If you're a bill poster, be careful to get the join in the right place.
Apply now for your Klarna "debt card".
[seen on LinkedIn]
Apply now for your Klarna "debt card".
[seen on LinkedIn]
Was Shakespeare an accountant? TL;DR - yes he probably was. Here's my evidence: abmagazine.accaglobal.com/global/artic...
Was Shakespeare an accountant?
Look closely at the bard’s plays and you’ll notice he had a surprising flair for ledgers
abmagazine.accaglobal.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Was Shakespeare an accountant? TL;DR - yes he probably was. Here's my evidence: abmagazine.accaglobal.com/global/artic...
How numbers permeated Shakespeare's work - an extract from Much Ado just published on the website of @folger.edu: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
Shakespearean Numbers | Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore. Jo...
www.folger.edu
December 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
How numbers permeated Shakespeare's work - an extract from Much Ado just published on the website of @folger.edu: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
Today is the day I learned that the LIV Golf tour gets its name from the Roman numerals L I V (= 54).
Each tournament has three rounds of 18 holes (=54) and in each round on a par 72 course, if you get a birdie on each hole your score is 54.
Top golfing nerdery.
Each tournament has three rounds of 18 holes (=54) and in each round on a par 72 course, if you get a birdie on each hole your score is 54.
Top golfing nerdery.
November 24, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Today is the day I learned that the LIV Golf tour gets its name from the Roman numerals L I V (= 54).
Each tournament has three rounds of 18 holes (=54) and in each round on a par 72 course, if you get a birdie on each hole your score is 54.
Top golfing nerdery.
Each tournament has three rounds of 18 holes (=54) and in each round on a par 72 course, if you get a birdie on each hole your score is 54.
Top golfing nerdery.
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
And to finish off the sessions for today, @RobEastaway.bsky.social has found a maths mistake in a late medieval textbook from 1503, showing the early adoption of a new form of arithmetic! robeastaway.com/blog... Grab yourself a copy here: www.peterharrington.... (for a bargain price!)
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
And to finish off the sessions for today, @RobEastaway.bsky.social has found a maths mistake in a late medieval textbook from 1503, showing the early adoption of a new form of arithmetic! robeastaway.com/blog... Grab yourself a copy here: www.peterharrington.... (for a bargain price!)
I was a guest today on Matt Chorley's show on @bbc5live (item starts at around 1hr 37 into the programme), to talk about the importance of maths to the UK economy. Do I get a bonus point for sneaking in a mention of Benford's Law? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Matt Chorley - The Reasonably Fast Show - BBC Sounds
The Fast Show's Charlie Higson goes to PMQs, plus 'Poll Position' and smorgasbords.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I was a guest today on Matt Chorley's show on @bbc5live (item starts at around 1hr 37 into the programme), to talk about the importance of maths to the UK economy. Do I get a bonus point for sneaking in a mention of Benford's Law? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An interaction at yesterday's launch of #MathsWeekEngland at the new MathsWorld venue near London's Bankside.
Mum with child: "What do you call the type of maths that's here at MathsWorld?"
Me: "It's officially called 'fun and interesting' maths"
Mum: "Ooh, we love this sort of maths"
Mum with child: "What do you call the type of maths that's here at MathsWorld?"
Me: "It's officially called 'fun and interesting' maths"
Mum: "Ooh, we love this sort of maths"
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
An interaction at yesterday's launch of #MathsWeekEngland at the new MathsWorld venue near London's Bankside.
Mum with child: "What do you call the type of maths that's here at MathsWorld?"
Me: "It's officially called 'fun and interesting' maths"
Mum: "Ooh, we love this sort of maths"
Mum with child: "What do you call the type of maths that's here at MathsWorld?"
Me: "It's officially called 'fun and interesting' maths"
Mum: "Ooh, we love this sort of maths"
How GCSE exams are killing enrichment. My story won't surprise most teachers, but those outside the school system might be a bit shocked.
robeastaway.com/blog/gcse-bl...
robeastaway.com/blog/gcse-bl...
Rob Eastaway - 'From Year 10 we put on Blinkers'
'From Year 10 we put on Blinkers'
robeastaway.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:35 PM
How GCSE exams are killing enrichment. My story won't surprise most teachers, but those outside the school system might be a bit shocked.
robeastaway.com/blog/gcse-bl...
robeastaway.com/blog/gcse-bl...
I did an interview on The Science Show on Resonance FM Radio, about the fantastic new MathsWorld which formally launches in London this week.
The Maths World item starts at about 49:00, link below: www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/th...
The Maths World item starts at about 49:00, link below: www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/th...
The Science Show - 3 November 2025 (Rob Eastaway; Nobels & Ig Nobels; Comets)
Mike and Richard from Science in the Pub present a monthly science show for everyone, packed with news, interviews and discussions, plus great music, cultural crossovers, and our favourite events and ...
www.mixcloud.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I did an interview on The Science Show on Resonance FM Radio, about the fantastic new MathsWorld which formally launches in London this week.
The Maths World item starts at about 49:00, link below: www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/th...
The Maths World item starts at about 49:00, link below: www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/th...
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
With fortuitous good timing, the day after the #CurriculumReview I have an article in the latest issue of the journal Teaching Shakespeare about building links between maths, Shakespeare and Elizabethan History
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
With fortuitous good timing, the day after the #CurriculumReview I have an article in the latest issue of the journal Teaching Shakespeare about building links between maths, Shakespeare and Elizabethan History
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
With fortuitous good timing, the day after the #CurriculumReview I have an article in the latest issue of the journal Teaching Shakespeare about building links between maths, Shakespeare and Elizabethan History
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
With fortuitous good timing, the day after the #CurriculumReview I have an article in the latest issue of the journal Teaching Shakespeare about building links between maths, Shakespeare and Elizabethan History
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
www.britishshakespeare.ws/wp-content/u...
It turns out Zohran Mamdani is a cricket fan.
"He credits cricket with teaching him about unity and how like-minded people can turn rhetoric into reality". sports.ndtv.com/cricket/the-...
"He credits cricket with teaching him about unity and how like-minded people can turn rhetoric into reality". sports.ndtv.com/cricket/the-...
sports.ndtv.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It turns out Zohran Mamdani is a cricket fan.
"He credits cricket with teaching him about unity and how like-minded people can turn rhetoric into reality". sports.ndtv.com/cricket/the-...
"He credits cricket with teaching him about unity and how like-minded people can turn rhetoric into reality". sports.ndtv.com/cricket/the-...
It looks like the curriculum review might bring an end to the grammatical term 'fronted adverbial' which seems to have been invented in 2014.
Here's the rant I posted about it the day I first heard it 🙂: robeastaway.com/blog/fronted...
Here's the rant I posted about it the day I first heard it 🙂: robeastaway.com/blog/fronted...
Rob Eastaway
robeastaway.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It looks like the curriculum review might bring an end to the grammatical term 'fronted adverbial' which seems to have been invented in 2014.
Here's the rant I posted about it the day I first heard it 🙂: robeastaway.com/blog/fronted...
Here's the rant I posted about it the day I first heard it 🙂: robeastaway.com/blog/fronted...
ENGLISH TEACHERS! A bursary of up to £1,000 is available for your dept! On 11th Dec I'm putting on my Y10/11 Much Ado show about Shakespeare numeracy and Elizabethan History at Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames. mathsinspiration.com/much-ado-aut...
emailATrobeastawayDOTcom for bursary details
emailATrobeastawayDOTcom for bursary details
Maths Inspiration - Much Ado About Numbers - Autumn 2025
Much Ado About Numbers - Autumn 2025
mathsinspiration.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:26 AM
ENGLISH TEACHERS! A bursary of up to £1,000 is available for your dept! On 11th Dec I'm putting on my Y10/11 Much Ado show about Shakespeare numeracy and Elizabethan History at Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames. mathsinspiration.com/much-ado-aut...
emailATrobeastawayDOTcom for bursary details
emailATrobeastawayDOTcom for bursary details
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
BREAKING NEWS! - The final line up has been announced for the Maths Week England Launch event at MathsWorld, London on Saturday 15th November. An entire day of talks, stalls and mathsy activities - come and join in the fun, you won’t want to miss out. AND - be part of a world record breaking attempt
October 22, 2025 at 1:14 PM
BREAKING NEWS! - The final line up has been announced for the Maths Week England Launch event at MathsWorld, London on Saturday 15th November. An entire day of talks, stalls and mathsy activities - come and join in the fun, you won’t want to miss out. AND - be part of a world record breaking attempt
A handy guide to the 6-7 meme that has become a global phenomenon edition.cnn.com/2025/10/18/u...
The ‘6-7’ meme can be annoying. But kids are shouting it for good reason | CNN
Middle schoolers everywhere can’t stop shouting “6-7,” a meme that means nothing. But don’t worry about “brainrot,” experts say.
edition.cnn.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:35 PM
A handy guide to the 6-7 meme that has become a global phenomenon edition.cnn.com/2025/10/18/u...
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
Excitingly, Today's the opening day of MathsWorld, the new hands-on maths museum in London. I've really enjoyed visiting MathsCity in Leeds, but they've now got a London location too! Details at mathsworld.com
MathsWorld – London’s new Museum of Mathematics
MathsWorld is an interactive museum in London with innovative hands-on exhibits that explore the beauty, wonder, and everyday relevance of mathematics for visitors of all ages.
mathsworld.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Excitingly, Today's the opening day of MathsWorld, the new hands-on maths museum in London. I've really enjoyed visiting MathsCity in Leeds, but they've now got a London location too! Details at mathsworld.com
I'm talking 'Much Ado About Numbers' at the Guildford book festival this evening, 8pm www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk/rob-eastaway
Guildford Book Festival: Rob Eastaway
In this highly engaging and entertaining talk, award-winning author and broadcaster, Rob Eastaway , explores the surprising ways that maths and numbers shaped Shakespeare's plays. In...
www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I'm talking 'Much Ado About Numbers' at the Guildford book festival this evening, 8pm www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk/rob-eastaway
"England have their best chance of winning the World Cup since 1970."
Hang on - until 1998 there were only 16-24 teams taking part. In 2026 there will be 48. England's odds are surely longer now than they were in (say) 1990.
theguardian.com/football/202... .
Hang on - until 1998 there were only 16-24 teams taking part. In 2026 there will be 48. England's odds are surely longer now than they were in (say) 1990.
theguardian.com/football/202... .
England have their best chance of winning World Cup since 1970 – and Tuchel is the key | Barney Ronay
This new realistic, pragmatic approach, with no snags or celebrity bodge-jobs, means that this time could be the one
theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"England have their best chance of winning the World Cup since 1970."
Hang on - until 1998 there were only 16-24 teams taking part. In 2026 there will be 48. England's odds are surely longer now than they were in (say) 1990.
theguardian.com/football/202... .
Hang on - until 1998 there were only 16-24 teams taking part. In 2026 there will be 48. England's odds are surely longer now than they were in (say) 1990.
theguardian.com/football/202... .
A reminder that if you are a primary or secondary school in Southwark, my in-school talks are always free - including short CPD sessions. Details of talks here: robeastaway.com/talks-and-ra...
Rob Eastaway - Talks
Talks
robeastaway.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A reminder that if you are a primary or secondary school in Southwark, my in-school talks are always free - including short CPD sessions. Details of talks here: robeastaway.com/talks-and-ra...
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
New blog post!
AMR with @jennyrohn.bsky.social, Jane
Goodall and John Searle, Ig Nobels, @mathsworld.com with
@robeastaway.bsky.social, science and poetry with
@samillingworth.com, and The Science Show begins on
@resonancefm.bsky.social
I think you should read it!
tinyurl.com/PubSci-blog-...
AMR with @jennyrohn.bsky.social, Jane
Goodall and John Searle, Ig Nobels, @mathsworld.com with
@robeastaway.bsky.social, science and poetry with
@samillingworth.com, and The Science Show begins on
@resonancefm.bsky.social
I think you should read it!
tinyurl.com/PubSci-blog-...
October Blog: Antimicrobial Resistance, the Passing of Two Greats, a New Science Show on the Radio, and a World of Maths
in this issue: antimicrobial resistance, the passing of two greats, a new science show on the radio, and a world of maths and the PubSci programme to download and keep
tinyurl.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New blog post!
AMR with @jennyrohn.bsky.social, Jane
Goodall and John Searle, Ig Nobels, @mathsworld.com with
@robeastaway.bsky.social, science and poetry with
@samillingworth.com, and The Science Show begins on
@resonancefm.bsky.social
I think you should read it!
tinyurl.com/PubSci-blog-...
AMR with @jennyrohn.bsky.social, Jane
Goodall and John Searle, Ig Nobels, @mathsworld.com with
@robeastaway.bsky.social, science and poetry with
@samillingworth.com, and The Science Show begins on
@resonancefm.bsky.social
I think you should read it!
tinyurl.com/PubSci-blog-...
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
I'm looking forward to Inside Maths again! Maths enrichment day, 9 Feb 2026, for year 5 and their teachers, at the Ri, London. Featuring @robeastaway.bsky.social and Fran Watson, hands-on activity and puzzles. Feedback from last year: insidemaths.co.uk/feedback
Book here: insidemaths.co.uk/booking
Book here: insidemaths.co.uk/booking
FEEDBACK 2025
insidemaths.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I'm looking forward to Inside Maths again! Maths enrichment day, 9 Feb 2026, for year 5 and their teachers, at the Ri, London. Featuring @robeastaway.bsky.social and Fran Watson, hands-on activity and puzzles. Feedback from last year: insidemaths.co.uk/feedback
Book here: insidemaths.co.uk/booking
Book here: insidemaths.co.uk/booking
Reposted by Rob Eastaway
Looking forward to #MathsConf39 on Saturday 11th.
My session might be the only one that features Baywatch, Treasure Island and crocodiles, but who knows?
My session might be the only one that features Baywatch, Treasure Island and crocodiles, but who knows?
The full MathsConf39 workshop programme is live! 🧮
⏰ Reminder: workshop selections are open – book your favourites now before they fill up!
🎟️ completemaths.com/community/ma...
#UKMathsChat
⏰ Reminder: workshop selections are open – book your favourites now before they fill up!
🎟️ completemaths.com/community/ma...
#UKMathsChat
October 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Looking forward to #MathsConf39 on Saturday 11th.
My session might be the only one that features Baywatch, Treasure Island and crocodiles, but who knows?
My session might be the only one that features Baywatch, Treasure Island and crocodiles, but who knows?
Great to see that @teakayb.mathsy.space is doing a session on history of maths at tomorrow’s #mathsconf39 - such an important and neglected topic.
October 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Great to see that @teakayb.mathsy.space is doing a session on history of maths at tomorrow’s #mathsconf39 - such an important and neglected topic.