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Swimming Maths

Maths in swimming: distance targets

Use 25 m, 50 m and 100 m distances.

Quick answer

Maths in swimming helps you work out how far you've swum, plan your training, and track your progress using distances like 25 m, 50 m, and 100 m.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up swimming distances in metres to plan your swimming session and track how far you swim.

Success signs:

  • You can count how many lengths of a 25 m pool you swim to reach 100 m
  • You can add together different swimming distances to find the total
  • You can explain how to plan a swimming session using metres
  • You can use a swimming pool diagram to work out how far you swim

Why this matters

Maths helps swimmers know how far they've swum, plan their training, and track their progress. Whether you're learning to swim or competing, understanding distance is important. You can use maths to work out how many laps you need to swim to reach 50 m or 100 m, or to plan how long your swimming session should be. This helps you get better at swimming and enjoy your time in the pool more.

How it works

Swimming uses metres to measure distance. A standard swimming pool is 25 metres long. You can swim different numbers of lengths to reach different distances. For example:
  1. 1 length = 25 metres
  2. 2 lengths = 50 metres
  3. 4 lengths = 100 metres
You can add up the lengths to find the total distance. For example, if you swim 3 lengths of 25 m, you swim 75 m in total.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're swimming in a pool that is 25 m long. Example 1: How many lengths to swim 50 m?
  • 1 length = 25 m
  • 2 lengths = 25 m + 25 m = 50 m
Example 2: How many lengths to swim 100 m?
  • 1 length = 25 m
  • 2 lengths = 50 m
  • 3 lengths = 75 m
  • 4 lengths = 100 m
Example 3: Adding different distances
  • Swim 2 lengths (50 m)
  • Then swim 3 lengths (75 m)
  • Total distance = 50 m + 75 m = 125 m
Example 4: Swimming 100 m in different ways
  • 4 lengths of 25 m = 100 m
  • 2 lengths of 50 m = 100 m
  • 1 length of 100 m = 100 m

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Swimming Challenge You're going to plan a swimming session. Here's your challenge:
  1. Swim 2 lengths of 25 m
  2. Then swim 3 lengths of 25 m
  3. Then swim 1 length of 50 m
  4. How far did you swim in total?
Answer:
  • 2 lengths of 25 m = 50 m
  • 3 lengths of 25 m = 75 m
  • 1 length of 50 m = 50 m
  • Total = 50 m + 75 m + 50 m = 175 m
Try this with your swimming pool or even draw it on paper!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 1 length = 50 m instead of 25 m.
    Why it happens: Mixing up pool sizes or confusing lengths with metres.
    Fix: Always remember that a 25 m pool is 25 metres long.
  • Mistake: Adding lengths incorrectly.
    Why it happens: Not counting carefully or forgetting to add.
    Fix: Count the lengths and add them one by one.
  • Mistake: Not checking if the total distance makes sense.
    Why it happens: Rushing or not thinking about the numbers.
    Fix: Double-check your addition and think about if your answer is reasonable.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Using a swimming pool diagram or real pool to show how lengths work
  • Practising addition with swimming distances
  • Encouraging your child to plan a swimming session and work out the total distance
  • Using a stopwatch to time how long it takes to swim a certain distance
  • Helping your child keep a swimming log to track progress
What to say:
  • "Let's count how many lengths you swim to get to 100 m."
  • "How far did you swim if you did 3 lengths of 25 m?"
  • "You're getting better at swimming! Let's see how far you swim each week."
What not to worry about:
  • It's normal for children to make small mistakes when counting or adding
  • Encourage them to try again and think about their answer
  • Focus on the fun of swimming and learning maths together

Practice questions

  1. How many lengths of a 25 m pool do you need to swim to reach 50 m?
  2. Swim 4 lengths of 25 m. How far did you swim?
  3. Swim 2 lengths of 25 m and 1 length of 50 m. What is the total distance?
  4. If you swim 3 lengths of 25 m and 2 lengths of 50 m, how far did you swim?
  5. How many lengths of 25 m make 100 m?
Answers:
  1. 2 lengths
  2. 100 m
  3. 100 m
  4. 175 m
  5. 4 lengths

FAQ

How do I know how far I've swum?

You can count the number of lengths you swim and multiply by the pool length. For example, 4 lengths of 25 m = 100 m.

What are the common swimming distances?

Common distances are 25 m, 50 m, and 100 m. These are often used for swimming lessons and races.

Can I use maths to plan my swimming session?

Yes! You can add up the distances of different lengths to plan how far you want to swim in total.

Why is it helpful to know how far you swim?

Knowing the distance helps you track your progress, plan your training, and see how much you improve over time.

What if I swim different lengths?

You can still add them up. For example, 2 lengths of 25 m and 1 length of 50 m = 100 m total.