Math in Basketball

Geometric Math

The game of basketball is a game of numbers and their are many ways to interpret the numbers of the game. The first obvious way math is involved in basketball is through geometry. Players may not realize it but they use geometric concepts constantly in the game of basketball. When shooting the player determine the angle and force that would be most likely for the ball to go through the basket. Players constantly change these variables in order to fit the situation that they are in. Players understand that the ark is one of the most important parts of the shot that determines if the ball will fall where it needs to. Another important part of basketball is d-fence. When a player plays defense they take the opposing player at an angle to limit the direction that the player can move. That is only how geometric math affects basketball.

Simple Math

Basketball is also a great place for people to practice simple math. With scoring it is simple addition. Finding the difference in the two scores is simple subtraction. Seeing how many baskets one team need to tie up the game is a combination of the two and division. Showing that is basketball not all of the math is complicated but simple.

Statistics

The biggest part of basketball is the stats or statistics. The stats are record of everything that a player has done in a game such as points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, and many more. Basketball is a game of stats and every day it becomes more and more about the stats. You can't state something about the NBA without having the stats to point to as proof for your statement. The point is that their has been an increase amount of value placed in purpose of stats. One stat that is fairly new it the efficient stat. It is supposed to determine a players efficiency. The equation is (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK − Missed FG − Missed FT - TO) / GP. It has been a great tool for coaches to determine who you best players are. The only problem is that people would argue that using pure states don't account for everything. If that is true or false no one truly knows, but what people do know is that with stats it is how you interpret them.

Sources

This page by Zen R. ('18)

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