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Equation 2 · A Showdown Ladder Rating Measures the Ladder, Not the Player

What does this equation mean?

r′=r+q1/RD2+1/d2∑j=1mg(RDj)(sj−E(s∣r,rj,RDj))r' = r + \frac{q}{1/\mathrm{RD}^2 + 1/d^2} \sum_{j=1}^{m} g(\mathrm{RD}_j)\left(s_j - E(s \mid r, r_j, \mathrm{RD}_j)\right)

Read the formula alongside the article passage below. Each part has a deeper page with its role in the equation, the supporting passage and nearby citations.

Start withq
Divide by1/RD^2 + 1/d^2
This relates tor'
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This equation states an equality: the expressions on both sides have the same value under the article’s assumptions. Read the equation part by part below; each part has a contextual explanation and a link to its mathematical background.

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rr

Symbol r

r occurs below the fraction bar. The quantity above the bar is divided by this expression; zero is excluded as a denominator.

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qq

Symbol q

q occurs above the fraction bar. The numerator is divided by the entire denominator below it.

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d2d^2

Symbol d^2

a variance term built from the same g(RDj\mathrm{RD}_j) and expected-score factors, sjs_j ∈\in \{0, 0.

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jj

Symbol j

j appears in the bound of this sum. The bound states where the repeated operation starts, ends, or which values it includes.

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mm

Symbol m

m occurs below the fraction bar. The quantity above the bar is divided by this expression; zero is excluded as a denominator.

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gg

Symbol g

g is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

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sjs_j

Symbol s_j

sjs_j is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

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EE

Symbol E

E is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

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ss

Symbol s

s is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

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rjr_j

Symbol r_j

rjr_j is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

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=

=

The expressions on both sides represent the same quantity under the stated assumptions.

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fraction

fraction

Divide the expression above the line by the one below it.

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addition

addition

Add the term after the plus sign to the term or group before it.

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subtraction

subtraction

Subtract the following term or group from the preceding one. A leading minus marks a negative quantity.

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subscript

subscript

The lower label selects a particular version, component, or indexed member of the quantity. For example, x₀ and xₜ can be values at different positions.

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superscript

superscript

A raised number can be a power. When it is a label or bound, it selects a case or the upper limit of a sum; the formula’s structure distinguishes these uses.

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1/RD2+1/d21/\mathrm{RD}^2 + 1/d^2

Denominator: 1/RD^2 + 1/d^2

The complete quantity below the fraction bar; it must be nonzero for this division.

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j=1j=1

Starting index or lower bound: j=1

This label says where the repeated addition, multiplication, or accumulation starts. Read its value or condition together with the article’s description of the index.

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mm

Ending index or upper bound: m

This label says where the repeated addition, multiplication, or accumulation stops. It sets the last term or end of the range.

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How to interpret it

With a fixed numerator, increasing a nonzero denominator reduces the fraction. Read it with the definitions, units, and assumptions supplied by the article.

What the article says around this equation

​ 1 ​ , q = 400 ln 10 ​ ≈ 0.0057565 r' = r + q1/RD2+1/d2\frac{q}{1/\mathrm{RD}^2 + 1/d^2} ∑j=1m\sum_{j=1}^{m} g(RDj\mathrm{RD}_j)(sj−E(s∣r,rj,RDj))\left(s_j - E(s \mid r, r_j, \mathrm{RD}_j)\right) where d2d^2 is a variance term built from the same g(RDj\mathrm{RD}_j) and expected-score factors, sjs_j ∈\in \{0, 0.5, 1\} is the outcome of game j , and between rating periods the deviation itself grows on a fixed schedule, RDnew period\mathrm{RD}_{\text{new period}} = RDold2+c2\sqrt{\mathrm{RD}_{\text{old}}^2 + c^2} , clamped to Showdown’s own configured ceiling of 130 rather than Glickman’s generic default ceiling of 350 [ 2 , 3 ] . Substitute Showdown’s published c = 6.6775026092 and the schedule is fully determined: it is not a metaphorical “uncertainty,”…
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​ 1 ​ , q = 400 ln 10 ​ ≈ 0.0057565 r' = r + q1/RD2+1/d2\frac{q}{1/\mathrm{RD}^2 + 1/d^2} ∑j=1m\sum_{j=1}^{m} g(RDj\mathrm{RD}_j)(sj−E(s∣r,rj,RDj))\left(s_j - E(s \mid r, r_j, \mathrm{RD}_j)\right) where d2d^2 is a variance term built from the same g(RDj\mathrm{RD}_j) and expected-score factors, sjs_j ∈\in \{0, 0.5, 1\} is the outcome of game j , and between rating periods the deviation itself grows on a fixed schedule, RDnew period\mathrm{RD}_{\text{new period}} = RDold2+c2\sqrt{\mathrm{RD}_{\text{old}}^2 + c^2} , clamped to Showdown’s own configured ceiling of 130 rather than Glickman’s generic default ceiling of 350 [ 2 , 3 ] . Substitute Showdown’s published c = 6.6775026092 and the schedule is fully determined: it is not a metaphorical “uncertainty,” it is a specific number computed the same way every 24 hours for every account on the ladder. A brand-new Showdown account starts at RD = 130 — already at the top of Showdown’s own configured uncertainty range, since that range tops out exactly where the starting value sits — which is the algorithm’s honest way of stating that it knows nothing about a new player yet, before either the player or their opponents log a single result.

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