I’m not great at math (stay in school, kids!), perhaps because I never liked it much. But this is a good use of math.

Nick Greene over at Mental Floss fielded one of the most pressing and important reader questions we’ll ever grapple with in our lifetimes: How far does Mario travel in Super Mario Bros.?

Greene calculated Mario’s steps based on a stance-width of 26 inches – a little more than shoulder-width apart — and assumed that Mario would be the small, pre-mushroom Mario.

The final tally:

3.4 miles, assuming no visits to bonus areas or warp zones

1218.5 feet swimming (about 7.5 laps in an Olympic-sized pool)

3.7 miles, assuming visits to bonus areas

Another 344 feet swimming, assuming visits to underwater bonus areas

Kind of puts your entire childhood into perspective, no? I would have guessed dozens and dozens of miles, but we’re actually dealing with a moderately-paced, hour-long treadmill workout.

Granted, the treadmill workout is one without jumping, consuming shape-shifting mushrooms, spitting fireballs and trying to avoid being killed by various animals. I bet Mario burns more calories than we think. He’s still a bit on the pudgy side, but don’t forget that he subsists almost entirely on pizza.

How Far Does Mario Have to Run (and Swim) in Super Mario Bros.? [Mental Floss]

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