The Mathematics of Games

The Mathematics of Games PDF Author: John D. Beasley
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 9780486449760
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Lucid, instructive, and full of surprises, this book examines how simple mathematical analysis can throw unexpected light on games of every type, from poker to golf to the Rubik's cube. 1989 edition.

Mathematics of Tabletop Games

Mathematics of Tabletop Games PDF Author: Aaron Montgomery
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1040089410
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
Mathematics of Tabletop Games provides a bridge between mathematics and hobby tabletop gaming. Instead of focusing on games mathematicians play, such as nim and chomp, this book starts with the tabletop games played by avid gamers and hopes to address the question: which field of mathematics concerns itself with this situation? Readers interested in either mathematics or tabletop games will find this book an engaging way to begin exploring the other topic or the connection between the topics. Features Presents an entry-level exposition of interesting mathematical concepts that are not commonly taught outside of upper-level mathematics courses Acts as a resource for mathematics instructors who wish to provide new examples of standard mathematical concepts Features material that may help game designers and developers make design decisions about game mechanisms Provides working Python code that can be used to solve common questions about games Covers a broad range of mathematical topics that could be used as survey material for undergraduates curious about mathematics.

Teaching Mathematics Through Games

Teaching Mathematics Through Games PDF Author: Mindy Capaldi
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 1470462842
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
Active engagement is the key to learning. You want your students doing something that stimulates them to ask questions and creates a need to know. Teaching Mathematics Through Games presents a variety of classroom-tested exercises and activities that provoke the active learning and curiosity that you hope to promote. These games run the gamut from well-known favorites like SET and Settlers of Catan to original games involving simulating structural inequality in New York or playing Battleship with functions. The book contains activities suitable for a wide variety of college mathematics courses, including general education courses, math for elementary education, probability, calculus, linear algebra, history of math, and proof-based mathematics. Some chapter activities are short term, such as a drop-in lesson for a day, and some are longer, including semester-long projects. All have been tested, refined, and include extensive implementation notes.

Games and Mathematics

Games and Mathematics PDF Author: David G. Wells
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107024609
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
A unique book providing a tour through the fascinating connections between mathematics and games.

The Mathematics of Games

The Mathematics of Games PDF Author: John D. Beasley
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 9780486449760
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Lucid, instructive, and full of surprises, this book examines how simple mathematical analysis can throw unexpected light on games of every type, from poker to golf to the Rubik's cube. 1989 edition.

Mathematical Games and How to Play Them

Mathematical Games and How to Play Them PDF Author: Steven Vajda
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486462773
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 146

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Book Description
This refreshingly authoritative look at recreational mathematics illustrates winning strategies that use the methods of algebra, geometry, combinatorics, number theory, graph theory, and other branches of mathematics. Its lucid analyses of the rules and theories of mathematical games include skill-enhancing exercises, plus references, appendixes, and detailed explanations. 1992 edition.

Math Games with Bad Drawings

Math Games with Bad Drawings PDF Author: Ben Orlin
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Incorporated
ISBN: 9780762499861
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
"Best-selling author and worst-drawing artist Ben Orlin expands his oeuvre with this interactive collection of mathematical games. Each taking a minute to learn and a lifetime to master, this treasure chest of 70-plus games will delight, educate, and entertain"--

Tabletop

Tabletop PDF Author: Drew Davidson
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1257870602
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
In this volume, people of diverse backgrounds talk about tabletop games, game culture, and the intersection of games with learning, theater, and other forms. Some have chosen to write about their design process, others about games they admire, others about the culture of tabletop games and their fans. The results are various and individual, but all cast some light on what is a multivarious and fascinating set of game styles.

Games, Gambling, and Probability

Games, Gambling, and Probability PDF Author: David G. Taylor
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000400204
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 516

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Book Description
Many experiments have shown the human brain generally has very serious problems dealing with probability and chance. A greater understanding of probability can help develop the intuition necessary to approach risk with the ability to make more informed (and better) decisions. The first four chapters offer the standard content for an introductory probability course, albeit presented in a much different way and order. The chapters afterward include some discussion of different games, different "ideas" that relate to the law of large numbers, and many more mathematical topics not typically seen in such a book. The use of games is meant to make the book (and course) feel like fun! Since many of the early games discussed are casino games, the study of those games, along with an understanding of the material in later chapters, should remind you that gambling is a bad idea; you should think of placing bets in a casino as paying for entertainment. Winning can, obviously, be a fun reward, but should not ever be expected. Changes for the Second Edition: New chapter on Game Theory New chapter on Sports Mathematics The chapter on Blackjack, which was Chapter 4 in the first edition, appears later in the book. Reorganization has been done to improve the flow of topics and learning. New sections on Arkham Horror, Uno, and Scrabble have been added. Even more exercises were added! The goal for this textbook is to complement the inquiry-based learning movement. In my mind, concepts and ideas will stick with the reader more when they are motivated in an interesting way. Here, we use questions about various games (not just casino games) to motivate the mathematics, and I would say that the writing emphasizes a "just-in-time" mathematics approach. Topics are presented mathematically as questions about the games themselves are posed. Table of Contents Preface 1. Mathematics and Probability 2. Roulette and Craps: Expected Value 3. Counting: Poker Hands 4. More Dice: Counting and Combinations, and Statistics 5. Game Theory: Poker Bluffing and Other Games 6. Probability/Stochastic Matrices: Board Game Movement 7. Sports Mathematics: Probability Meets Athletics 8. Blackjack: Previous Methods Revisited 9. A Mix of Other Games 10. Betting Systems: Can You Beat the System? 11. Potpourri: Assorted Adventures in Probability Appendices Tables Answers and Selected Solutions Bibliography Biography Dr. David G. Taylor is a professor of mathematics and an associate dean for academic affairs at Roanoke College in southwest Virginia. He attended Lebanon Valley College for his B.S. in computer science and mathematics and went to the University of Virginia for his Ph.D. While his graduate school focus was on studying infinite dimensional Lie algebras, he started studying the mathematics of various games in order to have a more undergraduate-friendly research agenda. Work done with two Roanoke College students, Heather Cook and Jonathan Marino, appears in this book! Currently he owns over 100 different board games and enjoys using probability in his decision-making while playing most of those games. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking, coding, playing his board games, and spending time with his six-year-old dog Lilly.

Game Mechanics

Game Mechanics PDF Author: Ernest Adams
Publisher: New Riders
ISBN: 0132946688
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 442

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Book Description
This in-depth resource teaches you to craft mechanics that generate challenging, enjoyable, and well-balanced gameplay. You’ll discover at what stages to prototype, test, and implement mechanics in games and learn how to visualize and simulate game mechanics in order to design better games. Along the way, you’ll practice what you’ve learned with hands-on lessons. A free downloadable simulation tool developed by Joris Dormans is also available in order to follow along with exercises in the book in an easy-to-use graphical environment. In Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design, you’ll learn how to: * Design and balance game mechanics to create emergent gameplay before you write a single line of code. * Visualize the internal economy so that you can immediately see what goes on in a complex game. * Use novel prototyping techniques that let you simulate games and collect vast quantities of gameplay data on the first day of development. * Apply design patterns for game mechanics—from a library in this book—to improve your game designs. * Explore the delicate balance between game mechanics and level design to create compelling, long-lasting game experiences. * Replace fixed, scripted events in your game with dynamic progression systems to give your players a new experience every time they play. "I've been waiting for a book like this for ten years: packed with game design goodness that tackles the science without undermining the art." --Richard Bartle, University of Essex, co-author of the first MMORPG “Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design by Joris Dormans & Ernest Adams formalizes game grammar quite well. Not sure I need to write a next book now!” -- Raph Koster, author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design.

Table Talk Math

Table Talk Math PDF Author: John Stevens
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781946444028
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description
Making math part of everyday conversations is a powerful way to help children and teens learn to love math. In Table Talk Math, John Stevens offers parents (and teachers!) ideas for initiating authentic, math-based conversations that will get kids notice and be curious about all the numbers, patterns, and equations in the world around them.