Question: In just a few sentences, explain how "boring" maths can be interesting?

Mark Hill answered on 16 Mar 2011:

Hi Tinydancer,

Here we go – me trying to give a short answer! That is a challenge.
How about:
1) How fast was the car going before the crash?

2) How far did it skid for?

3) Had it been travelling at the speed limit, instead of faster, how far would it have skidded for?

4) (Linked to (3))If it had been at the speed limit, would it have skidded to a stop before the other car pulled out/pedestrian walked out? In other words, if it wasn’t speeding, could the car have avoided the crash?

5) How log was the pedestrian in the road for? (Walking pace is roughly 1 m/s. Ped was 3 m from the path, into the road. Driver reaction time is typically 1.5 seconds. Ped was visible for 3 seconds)

6) How long would it take a car travelling at the speed limit, to skid to stop?

7) How fast was the car travelling at when it hit the pedestrian?

These are all real questions that I try to answer in my collision investigations. All use real maths and physics, but all help to tell the true story of a crash.

Is that really ‘boring’?

Thanks for your question. I hope that I have inspired you to look at your maths in an interesting light. Good luck.

Mark.