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On Scoring in Games

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2016

Donald Watson
Donald Watson*
Affiliation:
R.A.A.F. Academy, Point Cook, Victoria, Australia
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Extract

The purpose of this paper is to consider the question: if p is the probability that a player P will win a given rally against a player Q, what is the probability that P will win a given game? The answer, of course, depends upon the method of scoring; and the methods considered here will be those used in squash and, for comparison table tennis.

In table tennis P earns a point each time that he wins a rally. But in squash he must serve the rally that he wins in order to gain a point; and he relinquishes the service when he loses a rally that he serves.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 54 , Issue 388 , May 1970 , pp. 110 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1970

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References

1. ApSimon, H. G., The luck of the toss in squash rackets, Mathematical Gazette, 35 (1951), p. 193.Google Scholar
2. ApSimon, H. G., Squash chances, Mathematical Gazette, 41 (1957), p. 136.Google Scholar