Rob Eastaway
@robeastaway.bsky.social
Author, speaker, Director of www.mathsinspiration.com, cricket-lover, dad. Friend of BBC R4's podcast More or Less.
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"
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.
Yesterday I visited a Lancashire school who hosted a Year 10 Maths-History-Shakespeare day. It included quizzes, a talk and a 45 minute team DT challenge to build a cardboard replica of The Globe. This was the winner. @englishassociation.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @mathematicala.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Yesterday I visited a Lancashire school who hosted a Year 10 Maths-History-Shakespeare day. It included quizzes, a talk and a 45 minute team DT challenge to build a cardboard replica of The Globe. This was the winner. @englishassociation.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @mathematicala.bsky.social
Dahlias - the flowers that keep on giving #StillSummer
September 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Dahlias - the flowers that keep on giving #StillSummer
How to give circle theorems an Art Attack
robeastaway.com/blog/art-att...
robeastaway.com/blog/art-att...
September 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
How to give circle theorems an Art Attack
robeastaway.com/blog/art-att...
robeastaway.com/blog/art-att...
Shakespeare opened Henry V with some maths.
Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh both cut it. Coincidence? Or a cultural fear of numbers?
A new blog post www.robeastaway.com/blog/henry-v
Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh both cut it. Coincidence? Or a cultural fear of numbers?
A new blog post www.robeastaway.com/blog/henry-v
August 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Shakespeare opened Henry V with some maths.
Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh both cut it. Coincidence? Or a cultural fear of numbers?
A new blog post www.robeastaway.com/blog/henry-v
Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh both cut it. Coincidence? Or a cultural fear of numbers?
A new blog post www.robeastaway.com/blog/henry-v
If you believe in building links across the curriculum, and in the joy of learning without needing to be graded for it, 'Exam Nation' is an excellent and refreshing read.
August 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
If you believe in building links across the curriculum, and in the joy of learning without needing to be graded for it, 'Exam Nation' is an excellent and refreshing read.
Yesterday I spent a fascinating morning talking maths with a group of GPs. All professions require some level of numeracy, but doctors face particular challenges when communicating mathematical ideas.
I've written up a short blog: robeastaway.com/blog/gp-maths
I've written up a short blog: robeastaway.com/blog/gp-maths
July 31, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Yesterday I spent a fascinating morning talking maths with a group of GPs. All professions require some level of numeracy, but doctors face particular challenges when communicating mathematical ideas.
I've written up a short blog: robeastaway.com/blog/gp-maths
I've written up a short blog: robeastaway.com/blog/gp-maths
Here's a statistical mystery. When you compile the exam marks for a large group of students, they always follow a smooth bell curve, so you'd expect grades to do the same. But in 2024 in English GCSE they didn't. The chart dips at grade 4 and spikes at 3 (which some call 'fail').
Explain.
Explain.
July 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Here's a statistical mystery. When you compile the exam marks for a large group of students, they always follow a smooth bell curve, so you'd expect grades to do the same. But in 2024 in English GCSE they didn't. The chart dips at grade 4 and spikes at 3 (which some call 'fail').
Explain.
Explain.
This is the Ronseal* of road names.
*does what it says on the tin.
*does what it says on the tin.
June 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This is the Ronseal* of road names.
*does what it says on the tin.
*does what it says on the tin.
Prettiest walk to a maths teacher conference that I can recall. This is Lincoln cathedral which was once the tallest man made structure in the world.
June 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Prettiest walk to a maths teacher conference that I can recall. This is Lincoln cathedral which was once the tallest man made structure in the world.
On my way to Hexham in Northumberland for my talk at the Book Festival on Sunday afternoon. Always interesting to discover the audience split - typically it's about half 'Shakespeare' folk, and half maths folk, with quite a few both and a smattering of 'neither'.
May 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
On my way to Hexham in Northumberland for my talk at the Book Festival on Sunday afternoon. Always interesting to discover the audience split - typically it's about half 'Shakespeare' folk, and half maths folk, with quite a few both and a smattering of 'neither'.
It's Shakespeare's birthday! I'll be in Oxford, talking to
@bbcoxford.bsky.social mid morning, and then to all 200 Year 9s at The Swan School about Shakespeare's links to the Elizabethan mathematical world.
@bbcoxford.bsky.social mid morning, and then to all 200 Year 9s at The Swan School about Shakespeare's links to the Elizabethan mathematical world.
April 23, 2025 at 7:17 AM
It's Shakespeare's birthday! I'll be in Oxford, talking to
@bbcoxford.bsky.social mid morning, and then to all 200 Year 9s at The Swan School about Shakespeare's links to the Elizabethan mathematical world.
@bbcoxford.bsky.social mid morning, and then to all 200 Year 9s at The Swan School about Shakespeare's links to the Elizabethan mathematical world.
And so the season begins, on a one-sweater Sunday
April 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
And so the season begins, on a one-sweater Sunday
Much Ado About Numbers out in paperback today.
Only £10.99.
Only £10.99.
April 3, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Much Ado About Numbers out in paperback today.
Only £10.99.
Only £10.99.
If as expected Liverpool win the Premier League this year, they will take their place in a very familiar sequence of champions (with thanks to Edward Matthews for spotting this pattern)
March 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
If as expected Liverpool win the Premier League this year, they will take their place in a very familiar sequence of champions (with thanks to Edward Matthews for spotting this pattern)
It’s one of those “good to be alive” afternoons.
March 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
It’s one of those “good to be alive” afternoons.
Top tip: if you're organising a conference, always print a delegate's name on both sides of the badge - because sod's law says that more than half the time the badge will twist around 😉
March 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Top tip: if you're organising a conference, always print a delegate's name on both sides of the badge - because sod's law says that more than half the time the badge will twist around 😉
In the week of 19-23 May I'm offering FREE 'Much Ado About Numbers' talks for secondary schools (Years 9-12).
Note: 1) This must be a collaboration with English/History teachers 2) If outside M25 I'll request the train fare. Contact me via email AT robeastaway .com @nationalnumeracy.bsky.social
Note: 1) This must be a collaboration with English/History teachers 2) If outside M25 I'll request the train fare. Contact me via email AT robeastaway .com @nationalnumeracy.bsky.social
March 13, 2025 at 9:07 PM
In the week of 19-23 May I'm offering FREE 'Much Ado About Numbers' talks for secondary schools (Years 9-12).
Note: 1) This must be a collaboration with English/History teachers 2) If outside M25 I'll request the train fare. Contact me via email AT robeastaway .com @nationalnumeracy.bsky.social
Note: 1) This must be a collaboration with English/History teachers 2) If outside M25 I'll request the train fare. Contact me via email AT robeastaway .com @nationalnumeracy.bsky.social
Those parking bays will look familiar to puzzle enthusiasts.
March 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Those parking bays will look familiar to puzzle enthusiasts.
Very happy to have my book categorised in the Humour section of The Bookseller reviews 😃
February 27, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Very happy to have my book categorised in the Humour section of The Bookseller reviews 😃
The rules for writing Roman numerals have been flexible through history. In William The Conqueror's Domesday Book, 4 is always written as IIII (never as IV), but 9 is sometimes written as IX and sometimes VIIII and the I's are sometimes written above to squeeze them in. The no.s below are 9,10,11.
January 13, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The rules for writing Roman numerals have been flexible through history. In William The Conqueror's Domesday Book, 4 is always written as IIII (never as IV), but 9 is sometimes written as IX and sometimes VIIII and the I's are sometimes written above to squeeze them in. The no.s below are 9,10,11.
Hexham Forum - what a great way to spend a windswept evening in Northumberland.
December 21, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Hexham Forum - what a great way to spend a windswept evening in Northumberland.