Calculating Mean Lap Times

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 92 views

Introduction

In this article, we will delve into the world of mathematics and apply statistical analysis to a real-life scenario. Paula and her friends, Kate and another friend, have been running laps, and we have their last three lap times recorded. We will use these data to calculate various statistics and gain insights into their performance.

The Data

Name	Lap 1	Lap 2	Lap 3
Paula	16 mins 20 secs	15 mins 50 secs	14 mins 40 secs
Kate	16 mins 30 secs	15 mins 45 secs	14 mins 35 secs
Friend	17 mins 10 secs	16 mins 20 secs	15 mins 50 secs

Calculating Mean Lap Times

To calculate the mean lap time for each runner, we need to convert the time from minutes and seconds to just seconds. We can do this by multiplying the minutes by 60 and adding the seconds.

Name	Lap 1 (s)	Lap 2 (s)	Lap 3 (s)
Paula	980	950	884
Kate	990	945	875
Friend	1030	980	950

Now, we can calculate the mean lap time for each runner by adding up the lap times and dividing by the number of laps.

Name	Mean Lap Time (s)
Paula	(980 + 950 + 884) / 3 = 918.67
Kate	(990 + 945 + 875) / 3 = 923.33
Friend	(1030 + 980 + 950) / 3 = 986.67

Calculating Median Lap Times

To calculate the median lap time for each runner, we need to first arrange the lap times in ascending order.

Name	Lap 1 (s)	Lap 2 (s)	Lap 3 (s)
Paula	884	950	980
Kate	875	945	990
Friend	950	980	1030

Now, we can calculate the median lap time for each runner by finding the middle value in the ordered list.

Name	Median Lap Time (s)
Paula	950
Kate	945
Friend	980

Calculating Mode Lap Times

To calculate the mode lap time for each runner, we need to find the lap time that appears most frequently.

Name	Lap 1 (s)	Lap 2 (s)	Lap 3 (s)
Paula	980	950	884
Kate	990	945	875
Friend	1030	980	950

After examining the data, we can see that there is no clear mode lap time for any of the runners.

Calculating Range of Lap Times

To calculate the range of lap times for each runner, we need to subtract the smallest lap time from the largest lap time.

Name	Range of Lap Times (s)
Paula	980 - 884 = 96
Kate	990 - 875 = 115
Friend	1030 - 950 = 80

Calculating Interquartile Range (IQR)

To calculate the IQR for each runner, we need to first arrange the lap times in ascending order.

Name	Lap 1 (s)	Lap 2 (s)	Lap 3 (s)
Paula	884	950	980
Kate	875	945	990
Friend	950	980	1030

Now, we can calculate the IQR for each runner by finding the difference between the 75th percentile and the 25th percentile.

Name	IQR (s)
Paula	950 - 884 = 66
Kate	945 - 875 = 70
Friend	980 - 950 = 30

Conclusion

Q: What is the purpose of analyzing Paula's lap times?

A: The purpose of analyzing Paula's lap times is to gain insights into her performance and identify areas for improvement. By examining her lap times, we can calculate various statistics, such as mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range, which can provide valuable information about her running habits.

Q: What is the difference between mean and median lap times?

A: The mean lap time is the average of all the lap times, while the median lap time is the middle value in the ordered list of lap times. The mean lap time is sensitive to outliers, while the median lap time is more robust and less affected by extreme values.

Q: Why is the mode lap time important?

A: The mode lap time is the most frequently occurring lap time. In this case, there is no clear mode lap time for any of the runners, which suggests that their lap times are relatively consistent and not dominated by a single value.

Q: What is the range of lap times, and why is it important?

A: The range of lap times is the difference between the largest and smallest lap times. In this case, the range of lap times for Paula is 96 seconds, for Kate is 115 seconds, and for the friend is 80 seconds. The range of lap times is important because it provides information about the variability of the lap times.

Q: What is the interquartile range (IQR), and why is it important?

A: The IQR is the difference between the 75th percentile and the 25th percentile of the lap times. In this case, the IQR for Paula is 66 seconds, for Kate is 70 seconds, and for the friend is 30 seconds. The IQR is important because it provides information about the spread of the lap times and can be used to identify outliers.

Q: How can analyzing lap times help Paula improve her performance?

A: Analyzing lap times can help Paula identify areas for improvement by providing insights into her running habits. For example, if Paula's mean lap time is slower than her median lap time, it may indicate that she is experiencing fatigue or other issues during her runs. By examining her lap times, Paula can identify patterns and trends that can help her improve her performance.

Q: Can analyzing lap times be applied to other sports or activities?

A: Yes, analyzing lap times can be applied to other sports or activities that involve timed events, such as swimming, cycling, or rowing. By examining the lap times of athletes, coaches and trainers can gain insights into their performance and identify areas for improvement.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when analyzing lap times?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when analyzing lap times include:

Not accounting for outliers or extreme values
Not using the correct statistical methods or formulas
Not considering the context or circumstances of the lap times
Not interpreting the results correctly or drawing incorrect conclusions

By avoiding these common mistakes, analysts can ensure that their results are accurate and meaningful, and that they provide valuable insights into the performance of athletes.