Games back

To calculate games back (GB) of a baseball team, just use the following formula:

Games back = (Difference in wins + Difference in losses) / 2<br><br>

The formula above applies only to a team and it is used to determine the number of GB a team is from the first place.

The difference in wins is a always positive number, so is the difference in losses.

Therefore, when computing the GB, always do bigger number - smaller number so that the difference is always positive.

Note that the formula above can be used to calculate the games back for other sports. It does not have to be baseball only. Another name for games back is games behind. This computation helps to determine how far behind the other teams are from the leading team.

Example showing how to compute the games back

Use the following table to compute the GB between the first place and the other teams.

Team Number of wins Number of losses GB
First place team 34 22 N/A
Second place team 30 24 3
Third place team 28 26 5
Fourth place team 24 28 8


GB between first place and second place = (Difference in wins + Difference in losses) / 2


Differences in wins = 34 - 30 = 4

Differences in losses = 24 - 22 = 2

GB between first place and second place = (4 + 2) / 2

GB between first place and second place = (6) / 2

GB between first place and second place = 3


GB between first place and third place = (Difference in wins + Difference in losses) / 2


Differences in wins = 34 - 28 = 6

Differences in losses = 26 - 22 = 4

GB between first place and third place = (6 + 4) / 2

GB between first place and third place = (10) / 2

GB between first place and third place = 5


GB between first place and fourth place = (Difference in wins + Difference in losses) / 2


Differences in wins = 34 - 24 = 10

Differences in losses = 28 - 22 = 6

GB between first place and fourth place = (10 + 6) / 2

GB between first place and fourth place = (16) / 2

GB between first place and fourth place = 8

Recent Articles

  1. Calculate the Conditional Probability using a Contingency Table

    Mar 29, 23 10:19 AM

    Contingency table
    Learn to calculate the conditional probability using a contingency table. This contingency table can help you understand quickly and painlessly.

    Read More

  2. Rational Numbers - Definition and Examples

    Mar 15, 23 07:45 AM

    Rational numbers
    To learn about rational numbers, write their decimal expansion, and recognize rational numbers that are repeating decimals and terminating decimals.

    Read More

Tough algebra word problems

100 Tough Algebra Word Problems.

If you can solve these problems with no help, you must be a genius!

Math quizzes

 Recommended

Math vocabulary quizzes