Question

A marathon is 26 mi and 385 yd long. Estimate how many strides would be required to run a marathon. Assume a reasonable value for the average number of feet/stride.

Answer 1

Answer:

According to the University of Iowa, the average length of a stride is 5ft.

Now, the total distance of the marathon is:

26mi and 385yd.

Let's transform that distance into ft.

1mi = 5280ft

Then:

26mi = 26*5280ft = 137,280ft

1yd = 3ft

then:

385yd = 385*3ft = 1,155ft.

Then the total distance of the marathon, in ft, is:

D = 137,280ft + 1,155ft = 138,435 ft.

Now the average number of strides needed will be equal to the quotient between the total distance of the marathon and the distance traveled in each stride.

N = 138,435ft/5ft = 27,687.