University of Oxford Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford explains how to mathematically calculate the fastest dinosaur. Its the Maths of Dinosaurs!

Using a mathematical formula which gives the top speed of a land-based animal, we use the tools of calculus to determine the ideal mass to maximise velocity. Too small and the animal does not have enough capacity to go quickly, but too big and it cannot accelerate quickly enough to reach its theoretical maximum speed. The location of the ‘sweet spot’ in the middle is found by calculating the turning point of the velocity function. The solution is then applied to dinosaurs to determine which is the fastest.

Check out the full table of all top speeds by clicking the button below.

The formula for the top speed is taken from the work of Myriam Hirt:
Hirt, M.R., Jetz, W., Rall, B.C. et al. A general scaling law reveals why the largest animals are not the fastest. Nat Ecol Evol 1, 1116–1122 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0241-4