BY THE NUMBERS Have you ever thought about how important The Newspapers In Education (NIE) Program strives to promote literacy and responsible MATH is in the game of basketball? You can citizenship in children and young adults figure basketball statistics by finding through the inclusion of newspapers with percentages, averages and ratios. Math is regular classroom curricula. an essential part of understanding the game of basketball. Here are some examples: Corey attempts 42 free throws, making 36 of them. Corey’s free throw percentage can be calculated by dividing the free throws he made by the free throws he attempted then multiplying that number by 100. Corey’s free throw percentage is 85.7% (86% if you round up). Drew had 7 offensive rebounds in a game, which helped his team score 5 more 2-point field goals. The points scored because of Drew’s rebounds can be calculated by 937-225-7364 multiplying the number of field goals scored (5) by 2 points (the worth of each field goal). Drew helped his email: [email protected] team score 10 more points by getting those rebounds! NOW... IT’S YOUR TURN! 1. Tyesha makes 8 assists in a game and has 4 DID YOU KNOW? turnovers. Tyesha’s assist-to-turnover ratio can be A college and NBA basketball calculated by dividing the 8 assists she made by the court is 94’ x 50’ in area 4 turnovers she had. What is Tyesha’s assist-to- bounded by 2 sidelines and 2 turnover ratio? ____ end lines containing a basket at 2. Logan attempted 17 field goals in a game and made each end. High school courts 12 of them, his field goal percentage can be calculated are 84’ x 50’ and junior high by dividing the 12 field goals he made by the 17 field courts are 74’ x 42’. goals he attempted then multiplying that number The basket is attached to the by 100. What was Logan’s field goal percentage? _____ backboard. It consists of a metal 3. Brad played in 4 basketball games. In the first game rim 18” in diameter suspended he had 2 steals; in the 2nd game he had 3 steals; in the 10’ from the floor from which 3rd game he had 4 steals; and in the 4th game he had a 15-18” corded net hangs, and 2 steals. Brad’s steals per game can be calculated by adding through which points are scored. the total number of steals (11) and dividing by the number The foul line is 15 feet from the of games he played (4). How many steals did Brad average backboard and parallel to the per game? ____ end line from which players The most important thing about these numbers is how they shoot free throws. help or hurt the team. Coaches look at these numbers to figure out how well their team is doing — or not so well! If the players aren’t working as a team, it will show up in the numbers for sure! NEWSPAPER http://www.firstbasesports.com/basketball_glossary.html http://books.google.com/books?id=OXu4FnSO2l8C&pg=PT112&lpg=PT112&dq=basketball+math&source=web&ots=bxl ACTIVITIES: PwlIQ__&sig=kpICh-FtOkHkEGxop7mMMYYHj9E#PPT112,M1 http://www.basketball-goals.com/basketball%20court%20dimensions.htm 1. Find a box score in the sports section of the newspaper for a basketball game (high school, BASKETBALL TERMS college or professional). Can you identify all the information? assist – the last pass to a teammate that leads directly to a field goal; the scorer must move immediately toward the basket for the passer to be credited 2. Compare the teams in the box with an assist; only 1 assist can be credited per field goal. score you chose. Which team had more field goals? Which team had defense – the act of preventing the offense from scoring; the team without the ball. more free throws? Which team field goal – when the ball enters the basket from above during play; worth 2 points, had more rebounds? By looking at or 3 points if the shooter was standing behind the 3-point line. these numbers, could you predict floor violation – a player’s action that violates the rules, but does not prevent an which team won the game? opponent’s movement or cause him harm; penalized by a change in possession. 3. What other interesting foul – actions by players which break the rules, but are not floor violations; penalized information can you find in the by a change in possession or free throw opportunities. box score? free throw – an unguarded shot taken from the foul line by a player whose opponent 4. Find other sports that are committed a personal or technical foul; it is worth 1 point. covered in the newspaper that use offense – the team with possession of the ball. math to figure statistics. personal foul – contact between players that may result in injury or provide one team with an unfair advantage; players may not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or charge 3. 2.75 3. into an opponent; these are also counted as team fouls. 2. 70.58% 2. possession – to be holding or in control of the ball. 1. 2.0 2.0 1. rebound – when a player grabs a ball that is coming off the rim or backboard after a shot attempt. YOUR TURN! YOUR NOW... IT’S NOW... steal – to take the ball away from an opponent. Answers to Answers turnover – when the offense loses possession through its own fault by passing the ball out of bounds or committing a floor violation. STANDARDS SPOTLIGHT TEACHERS COMING ATTRACTIONS MATHEMATICS | Analyze and solve multi- If you know of fellow teachers who are JANUARY 8 | kidsINK: Goal Setting step problems involving addition, subtraction, interested in receiving newspapers in their multiplication and division of whole numbers. classroom for the remainder of the school year, JANUARY 8 | Serial Story: Chapter 1 Interpret data by looking for patterns and have them contact Suzanne Rucker @ Have a safe and happy winter break! relationships, draw and justify conclusions, 937-225-7479 or Michelle Brown @ 937-225-7364 and answer related questions. or by e-mail @ [email protected] PHOTOS: AreKmalaNG, masZas, ANDresr AND JANgeltUN – DREAMSTIME. Photos at Right (from the top): staff photo by coNtribUtor Robert Leifheit; PAGE DEVELOPMENT BY SUZANNE RUCKER. DESIGN BY HEATHER JACKSON. AssociateD Press photo by TONY DeJAK; staff photo by eriK schelKieN/elsestar Images. .