Subscribe now

Badminton progressions

A game of badminton is won by the first player to win 21 points, except if the score reaches 20-20, in which case it continues until one player is two points ahead. A match is won by the first player to win two games.

In this match each player won one of the first two games, so that the match required a third game to determine the result. For each of the players, the number of points they won in the three games, taken in game order, formed an arithmetic progression (with a non-zero common difference).

What…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop