Did you know that some of your favorite pastimes could also help build math skills? Mathnasium of Warrenton reminds you to look for opportunities to show kids that math is everywhere. We want to help families add conversations about math into their everyday lives. The more fun kids have with math, the more motivated they will be in math. Inspire your child’s interest in angles and physics by inviting them to play pool.
Pool has tons of opportunity to add math to the conversation. Use math to predict where the ball will go if you hit it from various angles and distances and with different force. Discuss that taking the time to make these predictions and set a strategy will help them to make the best shot. Beginning to see if your predictions are correct, and understanding how force, direction, and angles matter helps you shoot more accurately. The most popular game on the pool table is “8 Ball” but there are other games too. No matter which game you play, understanding the underlying rules of geometry, trigonometry, and physics, will help you sink a ball into a pocket.
Straight Shots
Use math to teach your kids to improve their straight shot! A “straight shot” is when a player hits the cue ball into the object ball, which lands directly into the pocket, without bouncing off the rail. The cue ball, object ball, and pocket are in a straight line. Straight shots are usually the easiest shot to make, but the degree of difficulty depends on the distance between the cue ball, object ball, and the pocket. Errors, such as spin or “English,” become amplified with more distance between the balls and the pockets. You can improve your accuracy by noticing the geometry of your body position, including the angle of the elbow and the distance of the hand from the end of the cue stick.
Mathematician Rick Mabry used trigonometry to find the most difficult straight shot, which is when the distance from the pocket to the cue ball is 1.618 times the distance from the pocket to the object ball. You may recognize this famous number as the Golden Ratio, or Phi.
Angle Shots
When a straight shot is not available you will need to make an “angle shot,” “cut shot,” or “slice shot.” Most pool shots will be an angle shot. The degree of difficulty depends on the angles involved. The larger the angle the harder it will be to make the shot.
Intermediate and advanced pool players use “The Law of Reflection.” This law says a ball will bounce off the side of the table (the rail) at the same angle at which it hits the rail. For example, if a ball hits the rail at an angle of 40 degrees, it will bounce off the rail at an opposite angle of 40 degrees. Using this law, you can predict where the ball will go based on the angle it approaches the rail. Good pool players are able to judge these angles by sight. Learn more about angle shots by watching this video from PBS.
If your children want to impress their friends with their pool skills, show them how to use math to improve their game. Next time you go out to eat, plan to eat at a restaurant with a pool table. Make math a family affair!
You may enjoy these resources about pool.
How to Play Pool like a Mathematician
Best body position for accurate shots
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