This unique book presents simple mathematical models of various aspects of sports with applications to sports training and competitions. Requiring only a background in precalculus, it would be suitable as a textbook for courses in mathematical modeling and operations research at the high school or college level. Coaches and those who participate in sports will find it interesting as well. The lively writing style and wide range of topics make this book especially appealing.

Readership

Advanced high school and undergraduate mathematics students. Coaches and sportsmen with elementary (pre-calculus) mathematics knowledge.

Reviews

"Some of the ... mathematical applications--particularly in areas related to operations research--are more intriguing. The authors have made a good effort to draw illustrations from many different sports ... They also demonstrate a wide variety of mathematical techniques with relatively simple examples ... a student might find something here to spark an interest in further investigation."

-- Journal of the American Statistical Association

"A nice survey of applications of mathematics in sporting events."

-- Mathematical Reviews

"Treatment is concise and insightful."

-- Zentralblatt MATH

Table of Contents

• Mathematics and sports (in place of a foreword)
• What is applied mathematics?
• Why five sets? (Mathematical modeling of tennis)
• Those judges!
• Records! Records!
• Linear programming and sports
• Game models
• Organizing competitions is an operations planning problem
• Classifications in sports
• Conclusion