Product Description

The new edition of a favourite which 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, craps, blackjack, keno), some social games (backgammon, poker, bridge) and various other activities (state lotteries, horse racing) 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 popular culture • Internet links to games and Java applets for practice and classroom use. Game-related exercises are included and solutions to some appear at the end of the book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150854 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Review
Review of first edition: 'The whole book is written with great urbanity and clarity. It is hard to see how it could be done better or more readably. The main virtue lies in the close and clever interweaving of theory and example.' Mathematical Gazette

Review of first edition: This is an informal, well-written, and witty exposition of the usefulness of mathematics and its analytical processes. The book covers gambling and betting schemes in math in greater detail than do most textbooks on introductory probability.' The Mathematics Teacher

About the Author
Edward Packel is Volwiler Professor of Mathematics at Lake Forest College.