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Athletics Maths

Athletics long jump distances maths challenge

A child-friendly sports challenge using long jump distances to practise measurement with real examples.

Quick answer

You can use long jump distances to practice measuring, comparing, and adding up distances in athletics maths.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to measure, compare, and add up long jump distances in athletics, and use these skills to solve problems like a real athlete. Success signs:
  • You can measure distances using metres and centimetres
  • You can compare jumps to see who jumped the farthest
  • You can add up multiple jumps to find the total distance
  • You can solve simple problems about long jump distances

Why this matters

Long jump distances are used in athletics to measure how far athletes can jump. This maths helps you understand how far you can jump, compare your jumps to others, and track your progress over time. It's also useful for planning and designing your own jumping area, or even for building a long jump pit in a garden or play area.

How it works

Long jump distances are measured from the take-off point to where the athlete lands. You measure the distance in metres and centimetres. To work with these distances, you need to understand:
  1. How to read a measuring tape or ruler
  2. How to add and compare measurements
  3. How to record and organise your results

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're at a school athletics day and you're measuring long jump distances. Example 1: Comparing jumps
  • Tom jumps 1.5 metres
  • Jessica jumps 1.8 metres
  • Who jumped further?
Jessica jumped further because 1.8 metres is more than 1.5 metres. Example 2: Adding jumps
  • Emma did three jumps: 1.2m, 1.4m, and 1.3m
  • How far did she go in total?
We add: 1.2 + 1.4 + 1.3 = 3.9 metres Example 3: Using a measuring tape
  • You measure a jump and it's 2.1 metres
  • You want to know how much longer that is than 1.9 metres
We subtract: 2.1 - 1.9 = 0.2 metres

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The School Long Jump Challenge You are a member of your school's athletics team and you are preparing for the long jump competition. You need to measure and compare your jumps to find out who has the best jump. Here's how to complete the challenge:
  1. Measure your first jump: 1.6 metres
  2. Measure your second jump: 1.8 metres
  3. Measure your third jump: 1.5 metres
  4. What is your total distance?
  5. What is your best jump?
  6. How much further did your best jump go than your worst jump?
Challenge for older learners: If the winner of the competition jumped 2.3 metres, and your best jump was 1.8 metres, how much further did the winner jump than you?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding 1.5m and 1.7m to get 2.12m
    Why it happens: Confusing decimal addition with whole number addition
    Fix: Add 1.5 + 1.7 = 3.2m (1 + 1 = 2, 0.5 + 0.7 = 1.2, so 2 + 1.2 = 3.2)
  • Mistake: Thinking 2.1m is shorter than 1.9m
    Why it happens: Not understanding decimal place value
    Fix: 2.1m is longer because 2 is more than 1
  • Mistake: Forgetting to use the same units when comparing
    Why it happens: Not paying attention to measurement units
    Fix: Always measure in the same unit (metres and centimetres)

Parent and carer guide

To help your child with long jump distances maths:
  • Use a measuring tape or ruler at home to measure objects like books or toys
  • Ask your child to compare distances of different jumps or throws
  • Play a game where you measure how far you can jump and add up your jumps
  • Encourage your child to record their measurements in a table
  • Ask questions like "How much further did you jump than your friend?"
  • Make sure they understand that 1.5m means 1 metre and 50 centimetres

Practice questions

  1. Tom jumped 1.3m, Jessica jumped 1.6m, and Alex jumped 1.2m. Who jumped the furthest?
  2. Sarah did three jumps: 1.4m, 1.5m, and 1.3m. What was her total distance?
  3. James jumped 1.8m, and his friend jumped 1.6m. How much further did James jump?
  4. Emma's jumps were 1.7m, 1.9m, and 1.6m. What was her total distance?
  5. Ben jumped 2.1m, and his best friend jumped 1.9m. How much further did Ben jump?
Answers:
  1. Jessica jumped the furthest (1.6m)
  2. Her total distance was 4.2m
  3. James jumped 0.2m further
  4. Her total distance was 5.2m
  5. Ben jumped 0.2m further

FAQ

What is a long jump in athletics?

A long jump is a track and field event where athletes run and then jump as far as they can into a sand pit.

How do you measure long jump distances?

Distances are measured from the take-off point to where the athlete lands, using metres and centimetres.

Can I practice long jump maths at home?

Yes! You can measure your own jumps, compare distances, and add up your results.

Why is it important to learn long jump distances?

It helps you understand measurement, comparison, and addition, and it's useful for sports and real-life situations.

How can I make long jump maths more fun?

You can play games, use your own jumps, or create a jumping competition with family members.