Real-Life Math
Developing math skills is essential for people who make customized
golf clubs. "Math plays a big part in building golf clubs," says David Daniello.
"You use math to calculate club length, overall weight and swing weight [the
weight of 1 end of the club in relation to the other]. I use math with every
club I build."
You are a custom golf clubmaker who owns and operates
your own company. A group of 10 golfing buddies has just hired you to make
each of them a set of golf clubs.
Before you can start making the clubs,
you have to decide what types of clubs each man should have. A standard set
of golf clubs includes 3 woods and 8 irons. Balls hit by wood clubs tend to
travel farther than when the irons are used.
The number on the club
also plays a role. For example, a ball hit with a number 3 iron will travel
farther than one hit with a number 4 iron.
You believe
that each player should have a set of clubs that reflects his playing ability.
For example, beginning players who can't hit the ball as hard should have
more woods and fewer irons in their bag. You've created a table to decide
what combination of clubs each player should have:
Average Score | Type of Golf Set |
72 to 85 | 3/8 (3 woods and 8 irons) |
86 to 99 | 4/6 (4 woods and 6 irons) |
100 to 115 | 5/4 (5 woods and 4 irons) |
116 or more | 6/4 (6 woods and 4 irons) |
You ask the men what they think is their average.
Seven of the men tell you immediately. However, the other 3 are unsure. Two
are beginners, and have only played a total of 6 times. The other one has
had very mixed results this season.
Fortunately, the private golf course
they've joined keeps an official record. The following week, each man brings
you the scores from his last 6 games. You will calculate the average of the
6 scores, and use this number to decide what combination of clubs each man
should have.
Here are their scores for the last 6 games:
Customer
Number 1: 130, 114, 126, 119, 135, 122
Customer Number 2: 120, 113, 125,
118, 117, 120
Customer Number 3: 119, 88, 102, 123, 95, 101