How are functions calculated, used, and expressed in real world mathematical situations? Background The British army was highly disciplined and known for marching in an orderly way. They had different rates of movement for different conditions of fighting or parading. By following the beat of a drummer, they could easily change the speed of movement. We actually know the pace at which their troops marched and from that, can calculate the distance they covered over given amounts of time. This is very helpful to historians as we can learn just how close the British were to the American patriots Duration: 60 Minutes.