Your favorite sports team is ranked #1. How do the powers that be determine this rating? Learn how ratings are mathematically computed using probability concepts, from the Elo Rating System for chess to the Rating Percentage Index for college basketball.

Concepts

probability, chess, basketball

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Use this activity during college basketball season if it fits your curriculum
• Extend the activity by having students investigate rating systems for other games and sports

Classroom Considerations

• Be sure to have some way for students to access the Internet for research purposes

Pros

• The activity is likely to be of interest to a wide variety of students, from game enthusiasts to sports fans
• Engages learners with a real-world scenario

Cons

• The solutions section mentions "stretch of schedule," but this concept is not fully explained

Common Core

HSF-BF.A.1.a HSS-MD.B.5.a HSS-MD.B.6 HSS-MD.B.7