Point sequences reaching four all in a tennis game
Question
In a tennis game the score starts at – and each point adds one to the winner's tally. A player who reaches points first wins the game, unless the score has been level at –, after which a player must lead by to win. In how many different point-by-point sequences can the score reach –?
Short answer
. To reach – the game must pass through – (otherwise someone would have won at – with ), and there are ways to get there. From – the next two points must be split, in either order: .
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Open the worked solutionLessons behind this question
- Sample Spaces, Events, and the Probability Axioms
- Counting and Combinatorics
- Conditional Probability, Total Probability, and Bayes' Rule
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