Great courses (DVD)

Course no. 1401

This course takes a mathematical approach to playing games and solving puzzles. In this course, you will be introduced to all kinds of games, from games of pure strategy (like chess) to games of pure luck (like many casino games) to games that mix strategy and luck (like blackjack, backgammon, and poker). You will analyze puzzles that have stumped people for centuries to modern favorites like sudoku and Rubik's Cube. You will improve your ability to play these games and solve these puzzles, but you will also learn some interesting mathematics along the way

Program contains twelve lectures; the length of each lecture is: ca. 45 min

Lecture notes and program information contained in course guidebook

Editor, Tom Krzywicki, Sarah Quindlen

Lecturer: Professor Arthur T. Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College

DVD

In English

Disc 1. Lecture 1.

Let the games begin! ;

Lecture 2.

Games of chance and winning wagers ;

Lecture 3.

Optimal blackjack and simple card counting ;

Lecture 4.

Mixed strategies and the art of bluffing --

Disc 2. Lecture 5.

Practical poker probabilities ;

Lecture 6.

Expert backgammon ;

Lecture 7.

Games you can't lose and sneaky puzzles ;

Lecture 8.

Solving "impossible" puzzles --

Disc 3. Lecture 9.

Mastering Rubik's Cube ;

Lecture 10.

Solving Sudoku ;

Lecture 11.

Mathematics and chess ;

Lecture 12.

Winning ways: it's your move!