Mathematics and SportsJoseph A. Gallian This is an eclectic compendium of the essays solicited for the 2010 Mathematics Awareness Month Web page on the theme of 'Mathematics and Sports'. In keeping with the goal of promoting mathematics awareness to a broad audience, all of the articles are accessible to university-level mathematics students and many are accessible to the general public. The book is divided into sections by the kind of sports. The section on American football includes an article that evaluates a method for reducing the advantage of the winner to a coin flip in an NFL overtime game; the section on track and field examines the ultimate limit on how fast a human can run 100 metres; the section on baseball includes an article on the likelihood of streaks; the section on golf has an article that describes the double-pendulum model of a golf swing and an article on modelling Tiger Woods' career. |
Contents
II Basketball | 53 |
III Football | 91 |
IV Golf | 147 |
V NASCAR | 187 |
VI Scheduling | 201 |
VII Soccer | 217 |
VIII Tennis | 225 |
IX Track and Field | 257 |
Back cover | 330 |
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Common terms and phrases
ability advantage appearances applied approximately associated assume average ball baseball beat better calculate called chance College conference consecutive consider consistent count curve defensive determine distance edge effect equal estimate event example feet field Figure final finishing Football force formations four function given gives goal golf golfer hitting hitting streak hole home runs increase interesting lane lead least length less linebackers major match mathematics mean measure method opponent outcome percentage performance plate play player points possession possible predict probability problem provides question race ranking ratings record relative round runners runs safety schedule scoring scoring method season self-symmetric serve shot shows speed standard statistics strategy streak Table teach tire tournament track trial University violations weight wind winning Woods