Maths and sports
One might think that a chasm separates mathematics from the practice of sport. However, the optimization of performance in many sporting activities relies on a branch of mathematics. Geometry makes it possible to manage the trajectory of balls, but also of bicycles or Formula 1 cars. Game theory is at the basis of the strategies employed, as are probabilities, which also enable the forecasting of results and therefore the management of sports betting. Discrete mathematics (arithmetic, combinatorics…) is used for the organization of events and the establishment of rankings. Conversely, cheating can be detected through the observation of statistical inconsistencies…
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Optimize athletic performance with maths | Tangente
The use of maths to optimize performance dates back to ancient Greece; today it extends to almost every discipline and is even spreading among the general public.
Sports lottery and a fractal
Gambling, long condemned on religious or moral grounds, has flourished over the past century, along with sports betting, which has grown with the rise of online gaming. Statistical studies can help optimize the winnings of the homo ludens that modern humanity has become.
Geometry and ball games
In ball sports, the constraints imposed by the rules have strategic implications rooted in geometry, whether the sport is team-based or individual
Percentage tennis: the maths that make you win | Tangente
Everyone talks about them, but few enthusiasts know what they really mean: probabilities play a major role in tennis, and players are best off adapting to them. Although the same issue arises in every sport, it has been studied most thoroughly in tennis.
Goal average and rankings: sporting fairness | Tangente
Breaking ties, showcasing the spectacle of sport: that is the role of the points system, often modified over time. But does this move toward greater fairness? And how can cheating be avoided?
Maths and sport: probability and news | Tangente
The relationship between mathematics and sport is not purely theoretical. It is used every day by athletes, by those who coach them, and by the developers who simulate them.
The choice of serve in tennis
A probabilistic model can help a tennis player choose which type of serve to use. Applied to the final of the last Davis Cup, which pitted Belgium against England.