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Exercise

Exploring WNBA Data

In this chapter, you will work with a matrix-vector model for team strength in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) at the conclusion of the 2017 season. These team strengths can be used to predict who will win a match between any two teams, for example, using machine learning.

The WNBA has 12 teams, so your Massey Matrix \(M\) will be 12x12, and will initially be loaded as a data frame. The vector with the point differentials for each team will be a vector with 12 elements.

Instructions
100 XP
  • The Massey matrix M is loaded for you. Print M.
  • The strength vector f is loaded for you. Print f.
  • Using the sum() command, show that the sum of the first column of M is zero (this is true of every column).
  • Find the sum of the vector f. Why should this be zero as well?