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Mario Kart Maths

Mario Kart race rankings maths mission

A practical mini-mission using race rankings to practise ordinal numbers through questions, examples and child-friendly challenges.

Quick answer

By playing Mario Kart and tracking race rankings, you can learn how to use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.) to show the order of finish in a race.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use ordinal numbers to show the order of finish in a race, and understand what 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on mean in real life. Success signs:
  • You can say the ordinal numbers from 1st to 10th
  • You can tell which place a racer finished in a race
  • You can write ordinal numbers correctly
  • You can use ordinal numbers to describe your own race or game results

Why this matters

Ordinal numbers help us know the order of things. In Mario Kart, knowing who came 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on helps you understand how the race went. This skill is useful for:
  • Understanding your place in a class or team
  • Knowing who won a game or competition
  • Reading race times or scores
  • Planning your own race or game strategy

How it works

Ordinal numbers show position or order. When you race in Mario Kart, you finish in a place. That place is an ordinal number.
  1. 1st place is the first finisher
  2. 2nd place is the second finisher
  3. 3rd place is the third finisher
  4. 4th place is the fourth finisher
  5. 5th place is the fifth finisher
Ordinal numbers are different from regular numbers. Regular numbers count how many things there are. Ordinal numbers tell you the order of those things.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine a Mario Kart race with 5 racers. Here are the results:
Racer Position Ordinal Number
Mario 1st 1st
Luigi 2nd 2nd
Princess Peach 3rd 3rd
Bowser 4th 4th
Toad 5th 5th
You can also show this with a line of racers:
  1. Mario (1st place)
  2. Luigi (2nd place)
  3. Princess Peach (3rd place)
  4. Bowser (4th place)
  5. Toad (5th place)
Here's a real-life example: If you and your friends are playing a race game, and you finish first, you are in 1st place. If your friend finishes after you, they are in 2nd place.

Try it as a mini adventure

Mario Kart Race Rankings Mission You are the race director for a Mario Kart tournament. You have 6 racers in your race. Your job is to rank them from 1st to 6th place. Here's your mission:
  1. First racer to finish: Mario – 1st place
  2. Second racer to finish: Luigi – 2nd place
  3. Third racer to finish: Princess Peach – 3rd place
  4. Fourth racer to finish: Bowser – 4th place
  5. Fifth racer to finish: Toad – 5th place
  6. Sixth racer to finish: Yoshi – 6th place
Now, let's make a race ranking chart:
Racer Position Ordinal Number
Mario 1st 1st
Luigi 2nd 2nd
Princess Peach 3rd 3rd
Bowser 4th 4th
Toad 5th 5th
Yoshi 6th 6th
Can you draw a picture of the race with each racer in their place?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Saying "1st", "2nd", "3rd", "4th", "5th", "6th", "7th", "8th", "9th", "10th" and getting confused about which number comes next.
    Why it happens: The pattern of ordinal numbers is tricky because they don't follow the same pattern as regular numbers.
    Fix: Practice saying them out loud and write them down. Use your fingers or objects to help you count and match the order.
  • Mistake: Writing "1st" as "1st" instead of "1st" or "1st" as "1st".
    Why it happens: It's easy to mix up the endings.
    Fix: Remember that 1st ends in "st", 2nd ends in "nd", 3rd ends in "rd", and 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th end in "th".
  • Mistake: Confusing 1st place with 1st in a list.
    Why it happens: Both are "1st" but in different contexts.
    Fix: Remember that 1st means first in a race, while 1st in a list means the first item in a list.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children learn ordinal numbers by:
  • Playing Mario Kart or similar racing games and asking questions like "Who came 1st?" or "Who came 3rd?"
  • Using ordinal numbers in daily life: "First, we eat breakfast. Then, we go to school."
  • Practicing with fingers or small objects to show the order.
  • Reading books or stories that mention ordinal numbers like "The 3 Little Pigs" or "The 12 Dancing Princesses".
  • Using a chart or list to show ordinal numbers and asking the child to place items in order.
If your child gets confused, take it slowly. Practice with just a few items at a time, and use physical objects to help them understand the order. Don't worry if they don't get it right away – learning takes time!

Practice questions

  1. What ordinal number comes after 4th?
  2. Write the ordinal number for 7.
  3. Which place is 1st in a race?
  4. What is the ordinal number for 10?
  5. Who finishes 2nd in a race?
Answers:
  1. 5th
  2. 7th
  3. First place
  4. 10th
  5. The second racer to finish

FAQ

What are ordinal numbers?

Ordinal numbers tell us the order or position of something. For example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.

How do I remember ordinal numbers?

Practice saying them out loud. You can also use your fingers or draw pictures to help you remember the order.

Why do we use ordinal numbers in Mario Kart?

Ordinal numbers help us know who won the race and how the racers finished. It makes the race more exciting and clear!

Can ordinal numbers be used for things other than races?

Yes! Ordinal numbers can be used for anything that has a position or order, like the days of the week, or the order of items in a list.

What is the difference between ordinal and cardinal numbers?

Cardinal numbers tell us how many things there are (like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Ordinal numbers tell us the order or position (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th).