Recreational Mathematics
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MORE Russell T Davies and the Number 57
Last year, to commemorate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, I decided to write a blog all about a number slightly less than 60. This year, to commemorate Doctor Who’s 61st anniversary, I have decided to write another blog, but this time… Continue reading
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Can We Use Maths To Talk To The Boneless? – Pi in Flatline Pt.2
Back in March, to commemorate Pi Day, I decided to treat you dear readers to a discussion on the number pi in Doctor Who, particularly focussing on Flatline. I know, I spoil you! But today, if you are reading on… Continue reading
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Why I Love The Galois Group
Tomorrow, that is Saturday 8 June 2024 at the time of publication, I’ll be heading off to Big Finish Day. Every year since 2016, Big Finish has run the Paul Spragg Memorial Competition. It’s a competition that invites writers (who… Continue reading
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The Most Important Belief in Human History? – Infinity in The Rings of Akhaten
“Saving the day through a heartfelt sing song and the illogical powers of an emotional leaf felt like a distinct cop-out.” – Mark Snow, IGN. “I caught the sound of a man airing the preposterous notion that the sum of… Continue reading
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Does the Doctor Accidentally Start a Maths War? – Pi in Flatline Pt.1
This essay was originally published on my (now-defunct) Substack newsletter on 14/03/24. The popular mathematics writer and Guardian puzzle columnist Alex Bellos once described pi as “the most famous number in math.” This is because pi can claim to be the only… Continue reading
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The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Also The Pub Quiz – Happy Primes in 42
On this day, 17 years ago, the next time trailer for 42 was first broadcast right after at the end of The Lazarus Experiment. Viewers would have to wait two long weeks to eventually see this episode, thanks to Eurovision,… Continue reading
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Meglos and The Dodecahedron
This essay was originally published on my (now-defunct) Substack newsletter on 14/12/23. Doctor Who: The Complete History – Issue 41 / Volume 32 contains an embarrassing error. If you would be so kind as to take down your personal copy off… Continue reading
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The Maths and Myths of The Trilogic Game
This essay was originally published on my (now-defunct) Substack newsletter on 07/12/23. Right at the start of The Star Beast, did you notice that the Doctor unstacks and then restacks a set of three cardboard boxes, arranged in size order, largest… Continue reading
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Russell T Davies and The Number 57
This essay was originally published on my (now-defunct) Substack newsletter on 23/11/23. “You know when people want to exaggerate a number, they always have a favourite number… Russell always uses 57, always 57. I once eventually said to him, ‘Do… Continue reading
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Does the ‘Easy as pi’ scene in The Five Doctors actually make sense?
This essay was originally published on my (now-defunct) Substack newsletter on 09/11/23. “I don’t understand this Five Doctors scene. Plz explain?” – Mr. Laser Beam (www.trekbbs.com) I’ve been meaning to write this post for around three years. Back in 2020,… Continue reading
The Brain of Möbius 