Sunrise walk in the bush featuring a close encounter with some wild giraffe. A giraffes heart is 0.6m in length and can weigh up to 11kg making it 5 times longer and 30 times heavier than a humans. The extra size is needed to pump blood up almost 3 metres to the head.

Having far too much fun pretending I’m a real life Pokémon trainer. Which is your favourite? Managed to put together a pretty solid team at Kruger so far, though maybe missing a water type - any suggestions?

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/08/03/t... The essays just keep on coming with Group 18 of the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase and the opportunity to learn about bubbles, butterflies, sausage rolls (yes, really), graph theory, fashion, drunk birds (apparently), and ambulances. Read them all at the link above!

Day 1 at Kruger and I’ve already seen my favourite animal up close (elephants <heart>) and a baby hyena. Can’t wait to see what else we find over the next few days :) Fun maths fact of the day: Kruger National Park is approximately twice the size of the Safari Zone in Pokémon Gen 1.

NEW VIDEO: youtube.com/shorts/LiESL... Can you solve the mutilated chessboard problem? Originally posted by Martin Gardner in Scientific American in 1957, it asks whether a chessboard with opposite corners removed can be covered completely using dominoes? With Dr Garth - YouTube's Head of Health.

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/31/t... You could say group 17 in the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase contains some 'prime' examples of how to write a mathematical essay for a general audience... but I would never make such a joke. Check the contents and read your favourites at the link above :)

Tomorrow is the last day of the Mathematical Modelling course I’ve been teaching this summer - it’s been a lot of fun. The course was split up into three main parts: multivariable calculus (6 lectures), linear algebra (3 lectures), and data analysis (3 lectures). Anything else you would add?

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/28/t... Palindromic numbers, the migration of coconuts, Numerology, and passing networks in football. There really is only one place to find such an eclectic mix of topics, all linked to maths. Contents of the next 20 essays in the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase available now!

Adventures from the past week in China running various maths workshops - a short summary. 1. Excellent food 2. Pearl River 3. Statue 4. Lava cake 5. Tiramisu (questionable) 6. School building 7. Lecture theatre 8. Typhoon

NEW VIDEO: I ask YouTube's Head of Health - Dr Garth Graham - what he thinks about the UK social media ban. And a maths question, naturally. Watch at the link below and see if you can solve it. Now live :)

What does YouTube's Head of Health think about the UK Social Media Ban?

YouTube video by Tom Rocks Maths

youtu.be

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/25/t... We're now almost half way through the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase as we reach number 300. I've learned so much already and honestly don't know how I'm going to pick a shortlist, never mind a winner. Check the contents and pick your favourite to read at the link above!

Just your typical maths lecture - ain’t nothing to see here… Well, nothing except the Pokémon catch rate formula, countdown number puzzles, and the unsolved problem of the 5 headed Hydra. I hope you all had as much fun as I’m clearly having in the photos :)

Tattoo #77 - do you know what these represent? Answer below :) . . . . . . They’re the Hextech runes Viktor carves into his leg in Arcane to aid his transformation into the Machine Herald. Yet to experience the magic myself but here’s hoping!

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/22/t... Happy Pi Approximation Day! To celebrate go read some essays from group 14 of the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase and learn about maths in Forensic Science, maths in Tennis, maths in Lego, and the maths of McNuggets. Essay titles shown in the second image - have fun!

When in China… BUY POKEMON CARDS. What do we think of my pull? Pretty pleased with a double rare card in the 3 packs - the actual odds are 1 card per 5 booster packs which means I have exceeded mathematical expectations :)

Group 13 of the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase features an excess of equations - from fractional dimensions and fractional calculus, to Fourier transforms and tensor transforms. Read them all at the link below - enjoy!

TRM Essay Competition 2026 Group XIII

The thirteenth group of twenty entries in the 2026 Tom Rocks Maths Essay Competition Showcase. The showcase will continue until all 600+ entries have been posted, before the winners shortlist is an…

tomrocksmaths.com

Photos from the recent Vice-Chancellor’s Colloquium showcase event celebrating the student-led projects tackling Climate Change and AI on a local scale. The programme brings together 500+ undergraduates across every subject at Oxford to learn about some of the big challenges facing the world today.

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/17/t... What better way to spend your Friday night than reading about interesting maths? The 12th group of essays from the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase are now available, featuring: football , Ludo, and Olympic mascots. Check contents on the second image :)

An incredible setting for a fascinating conference discussing the future of maths education in the UK. (Although that bathroom is highly questionable). Very grateful to be involved and to share my thoughts around accessibility to higher education at elite institutions.

NEW VIDEO: Using Penalties to Define Pi Just in time for the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina tonight - getting the angles right could make all the difference!

Pi and Penalties

YouTube video by Tom Rocks Maths

youtube.com

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/14/t... Essays, get your maths essays here! Another excellent batch of 20 articles covering exploding kittens, the Spotify algorithm, many-headed Hydra, and paradoxes galore. Check the contents in the second image and read them all at the link above :)

When you work for the best department at Oxford <3 Always a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of all of my amazing colleagues at Oxford Lifelong Learning - you’re all superstars!

NEW VIDEO: youtu.be/f2s7JCI-hUc A whistle-stop tour of the history of mathematics and the oft-forgotten contributions of female mathematicians. Interview with mathematical historian Snezana Lawrence. Premieres today at 8pm (GMT+1) - see you in the live chat!

Dushanbe - the final stop on my tour of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The city is responsible for 20% of the country’s GDP largely based around industrial, financial and retail sectors. In 2025 Tajikistan’s GDP was $17.66 billion - can you work out (in your head) how much is from Dushanbe?

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/10/t... Get your next fix of mathematical learning with the next batch of articles in the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase. From the maths of the Pokédex, to the maths of star signs. Check the contents on the second image and read them all at the link above!

What a brilliant day at Cambridge University for the 2026 Open Day. Can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow :) Thanks to everyone that came along to my taster session on complex differentiation and best of luck with your applications!

NEW VIDEO: What are frequency trees? The first of several videos I recorded with BBC Bitesize covering topics from GCSE Maths. I used to watch these videos when I was at school - crazy to think I'm now presenting them! Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m9J...

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/07/b... Pleased to be able to offer my opinion as part of a BBC article on the potential impact of the upcoming social media ban for teenagers in the UK. Read the full piece at the link above and let me know what you think.

The final day travelling along the Pamir Highway featuring the 1200 year old Hulbuk Palace, the world’s 2nd highest hydroelectric dam, and a caravan market at the Afghan border. What an adventure it’s been - almost 1500 km from Osh in Kyrgyzstan to Dushanbe in Tajikistan. Definite recommendation!

tomrocksmaths.com/2026/07/04/t... Spend your weekend learning some new maths with the next batch of 20 essays in the 2026 TRM Essay Showcase. From gaming strategies, to measuring inequality, via the truths that broke mathematics - as usual there's something to suit everyone's tastes!