1. SPORTS ALGEBRA
Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
North Carolina State University
Nancy Smith
Michelle Longest

2. Materials developed by Nancy Smith for Girls on Track 1999 Summer Camp
History
Materials developed by Nancy Smith for
Girls on Track 1999 Summer Camp

3. R R
12/31/2018
1.61

4. Purpose The purpose of Sports Algebra is:
To show students how algebra is used in sports
(help them make connections)
To provide a fun way for students to practice and master algebra concepts
12/31/2018
1.62

5. What is your role?
Think about the logistics of each game with 45 girls
Become familiar with each game so that you could lead it if you had to
HAVE FUN!!

6. Tennisball-Football

7. STATISTICS
Goals Against – how many goals the goalie lets go into the net
Goals Against Average:
Goals Against
Name
Games Played In
Cindy Lou 21 4
GAA (number of goals per game)

8. Consider the Following Situation:
Cindy Lou:
Starting Goalie
- 21 Games Played In
- 4 Goals Against
Sally Sue:
Back-up Goalie
- 13 Games Played In
- 2 Goals Against

9. Goals Against Average
Is is fair that Cindy Lou has a higher GAA than Sally Sue?
How can things be “evened” out?
- Calculations using total minutes
- Total minutes in a game (90)

10. Calculating GAA Calculate Total games played: Total minutes played
Total minutes in one game
Use Total games played to calculate GAA:
Goals Against
Total games played

11. How to Play Goal set up outside or inside Round 1: take turns in goal
Round 2: each person has two minutes in goal
All others form a line and take shots at the goal one at a time
Goalie must try to defend goal
After two minutes, the goalie switches
Goalie changes until everyone has been in the goal at least once
Round 3: each person gets a number; if number is called, jump into goal

12. Final Results
At the end of the allotted time, each person must calculate his or her GAA
Two minutes represents a total game

13. Sports Algebra
Basketball

14. Math Content Converting Ratios to Equivalent Fractions to Percents
Predictions based on Ratios and Percents

15. Basketball
Stats for the Charlotte Sting

16. Set-up Place empty trashcans around the room
Put a piece of tape on the floor at least 5 feet from the trashcan
Groups of 5 or 6

17. Directions Both teams will play two halves and an overtime
Keep track of the shots that your team makes during each half by COUNTING OUT LOUD

18. First Half Take 10 shots as a team
After 10 shots have been taken, calculate the ratio of shots made to shots taken
Use the ratio to calculate the team’s shooting percentage
Record team results on the overhead

19. Second Half
Use results from First Half to predict how many shots your team will make out of 15
Shoot 15 shots, record team ratio and shooting percentage
Record team results on the flip chart

20. Overtime
Calculate team results for the entire game (both halves combined; 25 total shots taken)
Using the stats calculated from the entire game, predict how many shots your team will make out of 7
Shoot 7 baskets and record your team’s results

21. Extensions/Resources
Water Balloon Volleyball
Water Balloon Toss (graphing equations)
Other types of balls
Connections (ex: NCAA Tournament & stats)
Technology
Newspaper (sports)

22. Questions
Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education North Carolina State University
(919)