Scholar Success Stories: The Link Between Math and Sports
The power of mathematics's all-seeing eye can be applied to almost anything in this world, and one of our alums proved it. Student Z came to us as a high school junior from a private school in Manchester, New Hampshire, with interests in math, statistics, data science, economics, and finance.
His research practicum focused on linear regression, a mathematical analysis approach that models the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Specifically, linear regression often uses the values of independent variables to predict the values of dependent variables, and it’s often used in artificial intelligence and business arenas. Student Z aimed to study the linear relationship between points and goal difference in the English Premier League standings. He detailed his game plan in his final paper, stating:
“A real-life example of the English Premier League standings will also be presented to explore the linear relationship between points and goal difference since a club with a larger goal difference often ends the season with higher points, followed by an extension that addresses the question of whether a team should buy a better attacker or defender. The hypothesis is that points and goal difference have a strong linear relationship, and teams in the English Premier League should prioritize the purchase of defenders over attackers since it is widely known that defense wins championships.”
So, he got to work. With the mentorship of his faculty advisor–a Professor of Mathematics at Georgia Institute of Technology–and the hands-on guidance of his teaching assistant–an MBA student from Columbia Business School–Student Z set out to not only study linear regression in the league but also gain insight into how he could apply the mathematical applications used in his study to analyze other sports and real-world situations.
“The implication of the research is to better understand the significance of mathematics in real life,” he stated. “Many real-life examples can be quantitatively analyzed by applying the method of linear regression, enabling people to find some particular order in our complex world.” After weeks of dedicated study and collaboration, Student Z completed a comprehensive research paper to present his findings, as well as the methods and models he used to lead him to his final conclusions. His findings were so outstanding, he successfully published the results of his research in The National High School Journal of Science.
He also earned a letter of recommendation from his faculty advisor, a priceless addition to any college application, and gained acceptance into Georgia Tech and the University of Virginia. Student Z’s story is a sterling case study on the rewards available for Scholar Launch students who hone their academic interests, strategize their extracurricular activities, and build lasting relationships with the professors and industry experts in our network who are there to help.
If you or your student is interested in participating in advanced academic research and optimizing your college application so you can earn acceptance letters to your top schools, contact Scholar Launch today.