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← The Points Curve · Lesson 3 of 3

One percent, three percent

About it

Near the base, a swim 1% quicker earns about 3% more points — the cube turns a small change into three times as much. Worked exactly, it is 3.06%.

Children’s times sit far down the curve. A 10 & under girls’ AAAA in the long-course 50 free, 32.19, is about 395 points against the 23.61 base. That is a fact about the curve, not a grade on a child: compare a swimmer’s points only with their own.

The figure

The points curve, near the base and far down

24 s28 s32 s4007001,000the base: 1,000 points1% of time ≈ 3% of points here32.19 s: about 395time (smaller is faster)
Points against time for the women's long-course 50 freestyle, base 23.61 seconds. At the base the swim scores 1,000; the curve falls fast at first and then more slowly. The short straight line touching the curve at the base shows its steepness there: a 1% quicker swim earns about 3% more points. Far down the curve, 32.19 seconds is about 395 points.
One question

Near the base, a swim 2% quicker earns about how many more points?

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