Pairwise Power: The Bradley-Terry Model Explained

Take a close look at the Bradley-Terry model, the math that turns one-on-one preferences into a field of strengths. We’ll derive the core formula pi/(pi+pj), connect its exponential form to logistic regression and Elo, and show how Plackett-Luce generalizes to full rankings. You’ll learn how to estimate the scores via maximum likelihood, why iterative updates and normalization matter, and where this idea shows up—from sports and market research to AI and animal behavior.

Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.

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