Research Catalog

Title

The mathematics of games and gambling / by Edward W. Packel.

Author

Packel, Edward W.

Publication

Washington : Mathematical Association of America, c1981.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

x, 141 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Summary

This text uses mathematics to analyze games of chance and skill. Roulette, craps, blackjack, backgammon, poker, bridge, lotteries and horse races are considered here in a way that reveals their mathematical aspects. The tools used include probability, expectation, and game theory.

Series Statement

New mathematical library ; 28

Uniform Title

New mathematical library 28.

Subject

• Gambling
• Games of chance (Mathematics)
• Probabilities

Note

• Includes index.

Bibliography (note)

• Bibliography: p. [136]-137.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Preface Chapter 1 Phenomenon of gambling -- A Selective history -- The Gambler in fact and fiction -- Chapter 2 Finite probabilities and great expectations -- The Probability concept and its origins -- Dice, cards, and probabilities -- Roulette, probability, and odds -- Compound probabilities : the rules of the game -- Mathmatical expectation and its application -- Exercises -- Chapter 3 Backgammon and other dice diversions -- Backgammon oversimplified -- Rolling spots and hitting blots -- Entering and bearing off -- The Doubling cube -- Craps -- Chuck-a-luck -- Exercises -- Chapter 4 Permutations, combinations, and applications -- Careful counting : is order important? -- Factorials and other notation -- Probabilities in poker -- Betting in poker : a simple model -- Distributions in bridge -- Keno type games -- Exercises -- Chapter 5 Play it again, Sam: the binomial distribution -- Games and repeated trials -- The Binomial distribution -- Beating the odds : the "law" of averages -- Betting systems -- A Brief blackjack breakthrough -- Exercises -- Chapter 6 Elementary game theory -- What is game theory? -- Games in extensive form -- Two-person games in normal form -- Zero-sum games -- Nonzero-sum games and the prisoners' dilemma -- Simple n-person games -- Power indices -- Games computers play -- Exercises -- Chapter 7 Odds and ends -- Off to the races -- Lotteries and your expectation -- The Gambler's ruin -- Answers to selected exercises -- Bibliography -- Index.
• Phenomenon of gambling -- Finite probabilities and great expectations -- Backgammon and other dice diversions -- Permutations, combinations, and applications -- Play it again, Sam : the binomial distribution -- Elementary game theory -- Odds and ends.

ISBN

088385628X (pbk.) :

LCCN

^^^80085037^

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library