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Badminton Maths

Maths in badminton: personal bests

Compare old and new results.

Quick answer

Maths in badminton: personal bests helps you compare your old and new results to see how much you’ve improved. You can use subtraction, addition, and number lines to track your progress.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare your old and new badminton scores or times to see how much you’ve improved, using subtraction and number lines. Success signs:
  • You can find the difference between two scores.
  • You can use a number line to show how much you’ve improved.
  • You can explain how your personal bests show your progress.
  • You can record your results and compare them easily.

Why this matters

Badminton is a fun sport where you play games, hit the shuttlecock, and try to win. When you play again, you can compare your scores to see how much you’ve improved. This is called tracking your personal bests. Maths helps you do this by showing how much better you are now than before. Whether you’re counting how many points you scored, how long a game lasted, or how many times you hit the shuttlecock, maths helps you understand your progress. This skill is useful not just in badminton, but in school, sports, and everyday life.

How it works

To compare your old and new badminton results, follow these simple steps:
  1. Write down your old score or time.
  2. Write down your new score or time.
  3. Find the difference between them using subtraction.
  4. Use a number line to show how much you’ve improved.
  5. Record your personal best so you can keep track of your progress.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are playing badminton with your friend. Here are some examples of how maths helps you compare your scores. Example 1: Points scored
  • Last week you scored 8 points.
  • This week you scored 12 points.
  • To find the difference: 12 – 8 = 4 points.
  • You improved by 4 points!
Example 2: Time taken
  • Last week it took you 2 minutes to finish a game.
  • This week it took you 1 minute 30 seconds.
  • To find the difference: 2 minutes – 1 minute 30 seconds = 30 seconds.
  • You got 30 seconds faster!
Example 3: Shuttlecock hits
  • Last week you hit the shuttlecock 25 times in one game.
  • This week you hit it 30 times.
  • To find the difference: 30 – 25 = 5 hits.
  • You hit the shuttlecock 5 more times!
You can also use a number line to show your progress. Here’s how:
  1. Draw a line from your old score to your new score.
  2. Count how many jumps you make.
  3. Each jump shows how much you’ve improved.

Try it as a mini adventure

Badminton Personal Bests Challenge Imagine you are a badminton player who wants to track your progress over 4 weeks. Here’s your challenge:
  • Week 1: You scored 5 points in a game.
  • Week 2: You scored 8 points in a game.
  • Week 3: You scored 11 points in a game.
  • Week 4: You scored 14 points in a game.
Your mission is to:
  1. Find how many points you improved each week.
  2. Draw a number line to show your progress.
  3. Write down your personal best.
Week 1 to Week 2: 8 – 5 = 3 points Week 2 to Week 3: 11 – 8 = 3 points Week 3 to Week 4: 14 – 11 = 3 points Your number line would look like this:
  • Start at 5
  • Jump to 8 (3 points)
  • Jump to 11 (3 more points)
  • Jump to 14 (3 more points)
Your personal best is 14 points!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Subtracting the wrong way – like doing 5 – 8 instead of 8 – 5. Why it happens: Sometimes children get confused about which number to start with. Fix: Always subtract the smaller number from the larger number to find how much you’ve improved.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to record the new result. Why it happens: It’s easy to forget to write down your new score. Fix: Always write down both old and new scores so you can compare them.
  • Mistake: Mixing up minutes and seconds when comparing times. Why it happens: Children might not understand that 1 minute = 60 seconds. Fix: Convert everything to seconds, or think of 1 minute as 60 seconds to make the subtraction easier.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child track their badminton personal bests in just a few minutes:
  • Ask questions: “How many more points did you score this time?” or “How much faster were you?”
  • Use a chart: Make a simple chart with weeks and scores to help your child see their progress.
  • Encourage drawing: Let your child draw their number line or use stickers to mark their improvements.
  • Be positive: Celebrate every improvement, no matter how small.
  • Don’t pressure: Let your child enjoy the game and focus on fun, not just winning.
You can also help by:
  • Practising subtraction with simple numbers.
  • Using real-life examples like cooking or shopping to show how maths is used.
  • Playing games where you compare scores or times.

Practice questions

  1. You scored 6 points last week and 10 points this week. How many more points did you score?
  2. Your game took 3 minutes last week and 2 minutes 30 seconds this week. How much faster were you?
  3. You hit the shuttlecock 15 times last week and 20 times this week. How many more times did you hit it?
  4. Last week you scored 7 points, and this week you scored 12 points. What is the difference?
  5. Your game took 2 minutes 10 seconds last week and 1 minute 45 seconds this week. How much faster was it?
Answers:
  1. 10 – 6 = 4 points
  2. 3 minutes – 2 minutes 30 seconds = 30 seconds faster
  3. 20 – 15 = 5 more times
  4. 12 – 7 = 5 points
  5. 2 minutes 10 seconds – 1 minute 45 seconds = 25 seconds faster

FAQ

What is a personal best in badminton?

A personal best is your highest score or fastest time in a game. It shows how much you’ve improved over time.

How can I track my progress?

You can write down your scores or times each week and subtract the old number from the new one to see how much you’ve improved.

Why is it helpful to compare old and new scores?

It helps you see how much you’ve improved, which can make you feel proud and motivated to keep playing and getting better.

Can I use a number line to compare scores?

Yes! A number line helps you see the difference between two numbers clearly and makes it easier to understand your progress.

What if I don’t get better scores?

That’s okay! Sometimes you don’t improve, but that’s part of learning. What matters is trying your best and enjoying the game.