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The Mathematics of Games and Gambling
Second Edition
Edward Packel
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
The Mathematics of Games and Gambling
Second Edition
Edward Packel
About This Book
The first edition of this book was reprinted eight times.This book introduces and develops some of the important and beautiful elementary mathematics needed for rational analysis of various gambling and game activities. Most of the standard casino games (roulette, blackjack, keno), some social games (backgammon, poker, bridge) and various other activities (state lotteries, horse racing, etc.) are treated in ways that bring out their mathematical aspects. The mathematics developed ranges from the predictable concepts of probability, expectation, and binomial coefficients to some less well-known ideas of elementary game theory.The second edition includes new material on: sports betting and the mathematics behind it; Game theory applied to bluffing in poker and related to the Texas Holdem phenomenon; The Nash equilibrium concept and its emergence in the popular culture; Internet links to games and to Java applets for practice and classroom use.The only formal mathematics background the reader needs is some facility with high school algebra. Game-related exercises are included at the end of most chapters for readers interested in working with and expanding ideas treated in the text. Solutions to some of the exercises appear at the end of the book.
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Table of contents
- cover
- title page
- Contents
- Preface to the First Edition
- Preface to the Second Edition
- 1 The Phenomenon of Gambling
- 2 Finite Probabilities and Great Expectations
- 3 Backgammon and Other Dice Diversions
- 4 Permutations, Combinations, and Applications
- 5 Play it Again Sam: The Binomial Distribution
- 6 Elementary Game Theory
- 7 Odds and Ends
- Answers/Hints for Selected Exercises
- Bibliography
- Index
- About the Author
- Back cover