How many laps does it take to run a five k race?

One strategy is to convert 0.63 laps back to meters by multiplying by the length of a lap or 887.8 m.  This gives about 559.31 m.  Students can then subtract alternating street lengths until they have less meters left than they can subtract.  So, if the race starts at Candlewood St and Dunrobin Ave and heads towards Hardwick St, 559.31 m – 304.1 m leaves 255.21 m.  Continuing down Hardwick St. to Ocana Ave takes off another 138.8 m leaving 116.41 m.Another strategy (which works if opposite sides are equal lengths) is to realize that half a lap is 0.5, so 0.63 – 0.5 leaves 0.13 laps.  Converting 0.13 laps back to meters gives about 115.41 m.  Note that it is one meter less than the other measurement because I assumed opposite sides are equal lenghts and as a result, the length of Hardwick Street was averaged to be one meter longer at 139.8 m.

We are still not done yet because while we know we need to run 5 complete laps and 1 half lap, we also need to run about 116.41 m more.  If we run this portion along a short side, we will need to go approximately 84% of the way.  If we run this portion along a long side, we will need to go approximately 38% of the way