Q276 · Practice questionTechnology-freeComplex familiar6 marks
QUESTION 276 (6 marks)
Three teams A, B and C play a mini-tournament. A defeats B, B defeats C, and C defeats A. Let when team i defeats team j and 0 otherwise, with order A, B, C.
a)[2 marks]
Construct D and determine the row-sum scores of .
b)[2 marks]
An organiser says changing the model to for positive q will produce a unique ranking. Evaluate the claim.
c)[2 marks]
Propose one refinement that could distinguish the teams. State any additional information it would require.
WORKED SOLUTION
6 marksPractice marking scheme
ANSWER
(a) ; all scores equal 2. (b) False; every score is . (c) Use score margins, or arrange an additional playoff.
Worked solution
(a) . Each row sum of is 2.
(b) Every row of D and has sum 1. Thus each row of has sum for every positive q. Changing the weight cannot break this symmetry.
(c) A score-margin matrix can distinguish teams if margins differ, but requires actual match scores. A playoff supplies new outcomes. Relabelling tied teams is not a mathematical distinction in performance.
Equivalent justified methods accepted; respect any requested proof method.
Exact values unless specified. Sketches assessed by mathematical features, not artistic quality.
Part a: Construct D using the stated convention.
Part a: Calculate the three scores correctly.
Part b: Express each score as .
Part b: Explain why the tie remains.
Part c: Propose a defensible refinement.
Part c: State the extra data or new outcomes needed.
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