Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Dangerous Driver?

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

  • Warm-up
  • Try this next
  • Think higher
  • Read: mathematics
  • Read: science
  • Explore further
 

A particular speed camera is located a short distance down the road from a particular set of traffic lights, at which there is always a queue at rush hour. At around this time a driver was caught out by the camera and challenged the ticket in court, claiming that he started moving from rest at the lights and that it would be impossible to reach the speed shown on the ticket over the short distance between the lights and the speed camera.


Prosecutor: "Although I accept that you left the traffic lights at rest, you were snapped by the camera doing $133\mathrm{kmh}^{-1}$, which is found at a distance of $338$ metres from the traffic lights. I claim that this is ample distance to reach the speed shown on the ticket."


Defendant: "But the specifications in the manual of my cheap car show that the maximum acceleration is $0$ to $96\mathrm{kmh}^{-1}$ in $10.5\mathrm{s}$. I could never have accelerated to such a high speed in such a short distance!"

Analyse this case carefully. Could the penalty reasonably be rejected on mathematical grounds?

 

You may also like

Take a Message Soldier

A messenger runs from the rear to the head of a marching column and back. When he gets back, the rear is where the head was when he set off. What is the ratio of his speed to that of the column?

Alternative Record Book

In which Olympic event does a human travel fastest? Decide which events to include in your Alternative Record Book.

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo