For those interested in Maths & World Cup Footy

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 13:21

Hi guys ... it seems Rowlo's question about the last English manager to win the league got a lot of you googling away, but here's a brainteaser for which you won't find the answer on the web. I gave it to my pupils recently, but unfortunately none of them got both parts correct. Let's see if you guys can do any better ...



For those only interested in the Maths and not the footy let me tell you that in the group stage of the World Cup it is only the top two teams in a group that continue to the next round and that a team gets 3 points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat. So, the two questions are:

1) What is the greatest number of points a team can get and still not go through ?

2) What is the least number of points a team can get, but still go through ?



Good luck !

Ian

bonnie1707


Joined: 06/06/2010
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 13:54

Hi Ian,



Here are my answers



1) 5 points

2) 3 points



bonnie

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:03

I'm afraid both those answers were wrong Bonnie.



Ian

zookeeper


Joined: 17/03/2010
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:16

a) 4

b) 2



Zookeeper's spouse

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:19

Hi Zookeeper's Spouse ... you have one of them correct ... I'm not saying which one though

zookeeper


Joined: 17/03/2010
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:19

Correction



a) 6

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:21

Well done Spouse!

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:34

For those that would like an explanation here goes :



1) Teams A, B, and C all beat D. In the other three matches A beats B, B beats C and C beats A. Team A, B and C all have six points but one team goes out because of goal difference and/or goals scored.



2) Team A beats B, C and D ... so gets 9 points. Teams B, C and D all draw with each other, so all have two points. One of them however had fewer goals scored against them by team A, so goes through to the next round.



Maybe someone can now tell me if either of the above scenarios have ever happened in the group stages of the World Cup.

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 23:48

In 1994 (USA) Belgium and Argentina did not qualify with 6 points.



No-one has ever managed to qualify with only 2 points.

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
07/06/2010 00:37

Well done Newscoop !!

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
07/06/2010 00:54

So it is possible that a team can win the world cup without scoring a goal in normal or extra time.

Roll on a Greece v Switzerland final.

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
07/06/2010 01:22

Certainly possible for a team to advance from the group stage without scoring a goal.



eg A vs B 1 - 0

A vs C 2 - 0

A vs D 3 - 0

B vs C 0 - 0

B vs D 0 - 0

C vs D 0 - 0



ie. B advances from the group without scoring a goal

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
07/06/2010 01:27

And yes, if they then win all their knock-out matches on penalties, it is indeed possible for a team to be champions without scoring a goal in normal or extra time.