Formula question

[DataDave]

Hi

Please can someone help me. I need some help in trying to figure out a formula to work out the below problem.

I have a list of drivers from a race listed in column a, 1 thru to 22. In column b, i have their average finishing position from 6 previous races. What I need to work out is the finishing position of each driver over the other for the next race. For example:

Driver 1, average finishing position is 7.
Driver 2, average finishing position is 10.
Driver 3, average finishing position is 19.
Driver 4, average finishing position is 4.

So what percentage does driver 1 have in finishing ahead of driver 2 and driver 3 and so on for the other 19 drivers.

I am sure there is a way, but I just get my head around it. I would like to upload an example, but I cant seem to find the option to do so.

Any ideas are most welcome.

Thank you.

 

[shadow12345]

Hi Dave and welcome to the board.

Im not sure its good news, but I don't see how you could do what you want... at least with the data you have (unless Im miss understanding it).

I think, you want to work out who should come first in the next race? but given that all you have is the average finishing position ... and not a list of when each person finished in each race im not sure how we could do that. If you had every race, then I guess we could say that driver A always beats driver C.

As I said from an average, it not really possible... unless we have more of a breakdown. Otherwise the answer would be... the driver with average finishing position of 1, will be first, drive with average of 2, will be second. Which is a little point less im sure.

 

[Michael M]

Hi Dave
You can't upload directly to this forum, but you can either use the HTML Maker in my tag to paste a SMALL sample of your data
OR
use a hosting site like DropBox or MediaFire to post your worksheet, then post a link to that site back here

 

[West Man]

If you had more data and the same group of drivers always competed, then you might be able to make some predictions. What you probably need is the standard deviation for each driver. This provides how consistant a driver finishes. For example driver 2 has an average finish of 10. This could have occurred by finishing 9th, 10th or 11th each race or by finishing either 1st or 19th each race - big difference