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Combining Math & Football with Scorigami
How the Unique Rules of Football Lead to Probability Puzzles
The 2024 NFL regular season is about to wrap up. It’s been a super fun year of football to watch, especially since my favorite team, the Detroit Lions, may secure the top NFC spot next week. It all comes down to our game against the Vikings on Sunday! This season, in particular, has set viewership records as football has become the most-watched sport in the U.S. in recent decades.
Part of the reason I love football is the social aspect. It’s fun to watch games with friends & family, and playing fantasy football with groups adds an extra layer to it. Fantasy football is a great way to stay in touch with people. However, I also love football for the fun way that mathematics shows up in it. American football has a very unique scoring system that leads to some interesting results.
Most sports (basketball, soccer, hockey, etc.) score points in small intervals. Hockey and soccer both have teams scoring one point at a time. In basketball, players can score 1, 2, or 3 points at a time, depending on the type of shot. Football is very different. Players can score 2…