MATHS
IN
Olympics
WHAT DO YOU
KNOW ABOUT
MATH IN
Olympics?
Have you ever wondered
whether there is any use
of Math in Olympics and
how?
We use Math in a lot of
Olympic games like
football, basketball etc
and also in athletics.
Let’s start with calculation
in sports.
In soccer they need math.
The reason is because they have to calculate
the yards they get to the touchdown.
A soccer field is 100 yards long, and it is marked
by a line every 10 yards.
The 50 yard line is in the center of the field,
and it divides one team’s side from the other.
Now, on to addition.
In Basket ball they need math.
One of the ways they use math in
basketball is because they have to
find the total points a player scores
a game.
Let’s see the averaging
part.
In judging events like gymnastics, diving etc
the marks scored by an athlete is always
calculated by averaging the marks after
ignoring the highest and lowest marks
awarded.
E.g. A gymnast was awarded 10,7,8,6,9 by 5
different judges out of 10.
The actual mark earned by him out of 10 will
be = (7+8+9)/3 = 24/3= 8.
Now, We want to see the
importance of time &
speed in Sports?
Don’t we?
A diver needs to calculate the time &
the speed to complete the diving with
the stunts before he/she could touch
the pool.
If he/she has to do more stunts or
difficult stunts, then he/she has to do
it faster.
Math is used in Athletics to help the
athletes to achieve new distances, new
speeds and new heights and also to help
them not hurt themselves.
A sprinter should know the maximum
speed at which he/she has to run to
cover the distance in minimum time
and win the race in record time.
Next, we need to know
the importance of
proper elevation.
A discuss thrower should throw his/her
discuss in the 45° elevation to cover the
maximum distance.
A discuss will travel the maximum distance
with the same power, if it is thrown on 45°
elevation.
The same is the case with a shot putter,
Javelin thrower etc.
Why did we leave the
angle?
A pole-vaulter would need to
calculate the angle he/she will go up
and come down.
A mismatch in calculation will hurt
him/her.
In other sports too, Math play a vital role.
Calculation of batting or bowling average of cricketer,
Winning percentage of a particular player or a team,
Records and statistics of a player or a team
All these are recorded and maintained with
the help of Math.
Thus we can say that without the
help of Math we may not enjoy
the sports in its true spirit.
THANKS
Avinash S. Kamath
Std: IV B