Sporting Collection

list

Secondary sport collection

Age

11 to 18

This is our secondary collection of favourite mathematics and sport materials.

problem

10 Olympic starters

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

10 intriguing starters related to the mechanics of sport.

problem

Squash

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

If the score is 8-8 do I have more chance of winning if the winner is the first to reach 9 points or the first to reach 10 points?

problem

Fa cup

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

In four years 2001 to 2004 Arsenal have been drawn against Chelsea in the FA cup and have beaten Chelsea every time. What was the probability of this? Lots of fractions in the calculations!

$The Olympic \LOGO$

problem

The Olympic LOGO

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Can you use LOGO to draw a logo?

problem

What's the point of squash?

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

Under which circumstances would you choose to play to 10 points in a game of squash which is currently tied at 8-all?

problem

Stadium sightline

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

How would you design the tiering of seats in a stadium so that all spectators have a good view?

problem

Pole vaulting

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Consider the mechanics of pole vaulting

article

Playing squash

Playing squash involves lots of mathematics. This article explores the mathematics of a squash match and how a knowledge of probability could influence the choices you make.

$\Little little g$

problem

Little little g

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

See how little g and your weight varies around the world. Did this variation help Bob Beamon to long-jumping succes in 1968?

problem

Light weights

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

See how the weight of weights varies across the globe.

article

High jumping

How high can a high jumper jump? How can a high jumper jump higher without jumping higher? Read on...

problem

Any win for tennis?

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

What are your chances of winning a game of tennis?

problem

David and Goliath

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

Does weight confer an advantage to shot putters?

article

Decathlon: the art of scoring points

How do decisions about scoring affect who wins a combined event such as the decathlon?

problem

Angle of shot

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

At what angle should you release the shot to break Olympic records?

list

Sport collection

Age

5 to 18

Challenge level

This is our collection of favourite mathematics and sport materials.

problem

Alternative record book

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

In which Olympic event does a human travel fastest? Decide which events to include in your Alternative Record Book.

problem

Olympic logic

Age

11 to 16

Challenge level

Can you use your powers of logic and deduction to work out the missing information in these sporty situations?

problem

Training schedule

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

The heptathlon is an athletics competition consisting of 7 events. Can you make sense of the scoring system in order to advise a heptathlete on the best way to reach her target?

problem

The fastest cyclist

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Andy is desperate to reach John o'Groats first. Can you devise a winning race plan?

problem

Speed-time problems at the Olympics

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to race against Usain Bolt?

problem

The Olympic torch tour

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Imagine you had to plan the tour for the Olympic Torch. Is there an efficient way of choosing the shortest possible route?

problem

Who's the winner?

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

When two closely matched teams play each other, what is the most likely result?

game

Twenty20

Age

7 to 16

Challenge level

Fancy a game of cricket? Here is a mathematical version you can play indoors without breaking any windows.

article

Tournament scheduling

Scheduling games is a little more challenging than one might desire. Here are some tournament formats that sport schedulers use.

problem

Nutrition and cycling

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Andy wants to cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats. Will he be able to eat enough to keep him going?

article

Performing beyond expectations - using sport to motivate students in mathematics lessons

In this article, Alan Parr shares his experiences of the motivating effect sport can have on the learning of mathematics.

problem

Track design

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Where should runners start the 200m race so that they have all run the same distance by the finish?

article

May the best person win

How can people be divided into groups fairly for events in the Paralympics, for school sports days, or for subject sets?

problem

Olympic triathlon

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Is it the fastest swimmer, the fastest runner or the fastest cyclist who wins the Olympic Triathlon?

problem

Medal muddle

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Countries from across the world competed in a sports tournament. Can you devise an efficient strategy to work out the order in which they finished?

problem

Who's the best?

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Which countries have the most naturally athletic populations?

problem

Olympic measures

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

These Olympic quantities have been jumbled up! Can you put them back together again?

problem

Olympic records

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Can you deduce which Olympic athletics events are represented by the graphs?

problem

Five children are taking part in a climbing competition with three parts, where their score for each part will be multiplied together. Can you see how the leaderboard will change depending on what happens in the final climb of the competition?

problem

Climbing complexity

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

In the 2020 Olympic Games, sport climbing was introduced for the first time, and something very interesting happened with the scoring system. Can you find out what was interesting about it?

problem

Olympic starters

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Look at some of the results from the Olympic Games in the past. How do you compare if you try some similar activities?

problem

Now and then

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Have a look at the results for some events at past Olympic Games. Can you use these to predict the results at the next Olympics?

problem

Match the matches

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Decide which charts and graphs represent the number of goals two football teams scored in fifteen matches.

problem

Half time

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

What could the half time scores have been in these Olympic hockey matches?

problem

Olympic turns

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This task looks at the different turns involved in different Olympic sports as a way of exploring the mathematics of turns and angles.

problem

Sports equipment

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If these balls are put on a line with each ball touching the one in front and the one behind, which arrangement makes the shortest line of balls?

problem

National flags

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This problem explores the shapes and symmetries in some national flags.

problem

Going for gold

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Looking at the Olympic Medal table, can you see how the data is organised? Could the results be presented differently to give another nation the top place?