How to explain distances travelled in comparing data to your student: example question
27 October 2026
When comparing sets of data, children often need to work out who has travelled the furthest. This skill is useful for 11+ Maths and helps with understanding how to add up distances from different parts of a journey.
Below is a simple example using a table. It shows how to look at the information and find the total distance each person travelled.
Worked example
Here is a table showing the distances two friends travelled on a walk:
| Friend | Distance on Path 1 | Distance on Path 2 |
|----------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Alice | 2 km | 3 km |
| Ben | 4 km | 1 km |
Question: Who travelled further in total?
Step 1: Find the total distance for Alice.
2 km + 3 km = 5 km
Step 2: Find the total distance for Ben.
4 km + 1 km = 5 km
Step 3: Compare the totals.
Both Alice and Ben travelled 5 km in total.
The correct answer is: They travelled the same distance.
| Friend | Distance on Path 1 (km) | Distance on Path 2 (km) | Total Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Ben | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Key insight: By adding up the distances for each friend, your child can see exactly how to compare totals. This makes it clear who has travelled further, or if the distances are the same.
Now your child will recognise this type of question and feel ready to practise similar problems from maths.com uk or in their own worksheets.
