Archive for the ‘Real Life Math’ Category

22 Amazing Numbers for 2022
January 6, 2022
22 Amazing Numbers for 2022 … Answers Q 6 – 10
January 6, 2022
22 Amazing Numbers for 2022 … Answers Q 11 – 16
January 6, 2022
3D Random Walk Math . . . . . . . . . . . . for Middle School
July 6, 2021Random Walk math is both simple and complicated all at the same time. The math models are a little bit complicated but the concept is simple.
Random walk math is used to model many processes in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Zoology, finance (Stock market movement), psychology, ecology, computer science, and video games.
Simple Example:
Choices: Up, Down, N, S, E, W.
Note: We are still using constant step size and right-angle turns.
The random walk of one particle would look something like this from Mathworld:
In an infinite no. of steps the probability of reaching the starting point again is 0.3405373296 or about one-third. Mathematicians use math models to calculate the probability of a particle ending up here or there or back where it started. eg. It is less likely that the particle above would move in a straight line 500 times in a row.
You can play with a 3D random walk generator here.
And check out this excellent video explaining a 3D Random Walk in nature.

Toilet Paper FUN FACTS Maths
June 1, 2021Mathspig is in Melbourne, Australia. We’re in Lockdown. AGAIN!
And toilet paper has disappeared off the supermarket shelves. AGAIN.
So today we are doing maths based entirely on toilet paper using information from the Toilet Paper Fun Facts website. Yes! It exists here.
Toilet Paper Fun Facts Website
Protractor Wind Speed Calculator
POP UP ANS Q 1 & 2 Yr 7&8 Toilet Paper fun facts
Pythagoras Equation Diagram here
Here is the Sine Rule (Watch 1.5 mins)
Check sine curve here:
Listen to sine curve here:

2. Stuntman Math: Jumping off a Building
October 14, 2019This is a repost of Mathspig’s very popular Stuntman/woman series.
The main concern when jumping off a building is that the airbag (cardboard boxes) cover the drop zone.
The maths calculations involved in jumping off a building are straightforward. You might like to check out How Maths Solved a real murder.
Jump Height that Kills
It doesn’t take much of a fall to cause damage. Sean Hughes, professor of surgery at Imperial College, London. Says “From a height of 3m you could fracture your spine,” he says. “At around 10m, you’re looking at very serious injuries.” (The Guardian, 20 MAY 2014)
Stunt Jump from building from standing start
As this jump – as in most base jumps – involves a standing start:
Stunt jump from building running
We will assume you are no Usain Bolt. His running speed, the fastest in the world, is 44.72 km/h (12.42m/s, 27.44 mph).
We’ll say your running speed on take-off is:
Vy = 15 mph = 24.1 kph = 6.7 m/sec
Don’t do this at home.
NB: Airbag dimensions: 20m x 20m x 4 m
Handstand of death
Would you jump off a 25 story building?
Watch on Youtube here.

3. STUNTMAN MATH: Motorbike Jump
October 9, 2019This is a repost of Mathspig’s very popular Stuntman/woman series.
Star Stuntmen
Star Stuntmen Monte Perin (pictured) has involved many films, including “Spider-Man,” “Star Trek, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and portraying Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”
Perhaps his most difficult stunt was landing his Harley in an open boxcar of a moving train for Disney’s 2008 Adam Sandler movie “Bedtime Stories”. In a career of over 25 years Perin has broken “almost everything” including both his arms, legs, knees, feet, ankles, several ribs, his back and his pelvis. See Confessions of a stuntman
Veteran stuntman Evel Knievel (1938 – 2007) was the pioneer of many stunt jumps. Here he is jumping 10 cars and 3 vans in 1973.
His injuries are legendary:
More Evel Knievel
Ramp Design
The angle of the kicker in ramp design can vary from 100 – 700 (See below)
Moto-X Ramp Jump Maths
As any bike nut knows increasing speed and angle of take off will increase jump distance.
Here is a graph from final gear for speed vs angle to jump 90m.
METHOD 1 is approximate (See STEP 1 & STEP 2 above), but as METHOD 2 produces the same ans (See above), it is very useful.
You will find a thoroughly detailed calc for STUNT JUMP MATHS here:
And everything you ever wanted to know about PHYSICS OF STUNT JUMPS here.