# Help Creating an Excel Formula **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930 "2008-08-22T15:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930/1 "2008-08-22T15:26:46Z")
I need to create a weighted scoring system, and I can’t figure out how to make it work. Basically, entrants will have a maximum amount of time to complete the course, but their scores would be relative to the amount of time it took the 1st place entrant to finish. I would also like to weight the formula to recognize that it’s harder for 1st place to beat 2nd place than it is for 9th place to beat 10th place. Here’s what I imagine the results would look like with numbers pulled from thin air. Maximum time allowed: 120 minutes Maximum points awarded: 100 1st - 60 minutes - 100 points 2nd - 65 minutes - 95 points 3rd - 90 minutes - 40 points 4th - 115 minutes - 5 points 5th - 120 minutes - 0 points Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930/2 "2008-08-22T16:02:38Z")
Well, the linear formula is: (1-(N-F)/(L-F))\*100 where N=entrants score F = best time L = worst time e.g. your second guy would work out to: (1-(65-60)/(120-60))\*100 = 91.67 ---
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930/3 "2008-08-22T16:31:42Z")
[QUOTE=K364] Well, the linear formula is: (1-(N-F)/(L-F))\*100 [/QUOTE] Thanks. The weighted formula would be (1-((N-F)/(L-F)^.75))\*100, right? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930/4 "2008-08-22T17:51:58Z")
[QUOTE=Walter.P.Higgens] Thanks. The weighted formula would be (1-((N-F)/(L-F)^.75))\*100, right? [/QUOTE] Yes, actually, (1-((N-F)/(L-F))^.75)\*100 for clarity ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-creating-an-excel-formula/460930/5 "2008-08-22T18:09:26Z")
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