• David and Goliath

    Does weight give shot putters an advantage? This activity encourages students to engage in statistical analysis, and is aimed at GCSE and A-level students (Key Stages 4 and 5).

  • Making gold for 2012

    For this article Plus, our free online maths magazine, interviewed leading researchers in sports technology and engineering to learn more about their work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes in a range of sports. Improvements to equipment or clothing may save only a few hundredths of a second, but that can mean the difference between a silver or gold medal.

  • Little Little G

    Could the altitude of the city hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games have an effect on performance in the long jump? This challenging activity encourages mathematical reflection, investigation and discussion as students explore how weight and g varies around the world. It is aimed at students of A-Level maths (Key Stage 5).

  • Pole Vaulting

    This activity investigates the mechanics of the pole vaulting event, and is designed to be accessible to A-level maths students (Key Stage 5).

  • Project Ideas: World Records - Correlations and Predicting the Future

    This activity suggests a number of investigative projects, focusing on athletics and swimming, exploring some of the trends between performances in different sports at the same time in history and in the rate of improvement of records over time. These project ideas provide opportunities for mathematical modelling and for handling, processing and analysing data, and are aimed at GCSE and A Level students (Key Stages 4 and 5).

  • When errors snowball

    Accuracy matters when it comes to building Olympic sports venues. This short article, aimed at older students and the general public, looks at why small errors can have large consequences for record-breaking sporting performance.

  • A question of tactics

    How should you decide which leg of the 4x400 metres relay the team's fastest runner should run? This short article, aimed at older students and the general public, looks at some of the tactical choices team captains and coaches face and how randomness might help.

  • Speed and accuracy

    This activity investigates the importance of accurate measurement in competitive sport, looking at examples from athletics and swimming. It is aimed at secondary maths students (Key Stage 4).

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