Math 190

Mathematics in Sports, Games and Gambling

Fall 2007

Professor: Ron Gould

Office: E432 Mathematics and Sciences Building	Office Hours: 12:00-12:45 MF 3:00-4:00 W (Or by appointment.)
Office Phone: 404 - 727 - 7924	email: rg@mathcs.emory.edu
class web page: http://www.mathcs.emory.edu/~rg/m190.html

Additional important reference and library information!

Text: The Mathematics of Games and Gambling by Edward Packel, MAA 1981. Various additional handouts will also be given.

Exams and Grades:

There will be two in-class hour exams and a final. In class exams are scheduled for: Wednesday Oct. 3 and Friday, Nov. 9.

Hour exams count 30% each, the final 30%, the remaining 10% will come from homeworks.
The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 8:30-11:00 AM in our classroom.
Assignments will consist of some individual assignments and some team assignments. Homework teams of two or three people will be formed. Each team should work together to complete each team homework assignment. One paper should be submitted from each team, with all team members names on the paper. For team PROJECTS, a class presentation will be involved.
For grades, a fundamentally straight scale will be employed, that is, I expect to use the following:

90 and above average - A

80-89 - B

70-79 - C

60-69 - D

below - F

Plus and minus grades within these ranges will be given at my discretion.

GOALS: Our goals are to gain a deeper insight into functions via measurement. How do we measure who is the best quarterback? The best hitter? How do we measure what is a "good bet"? How do we compare two players from different eras? Along the way we will develop the laws of probability through their applications in sports, games and gambling. We shall also consider some instances of mathematics applications in card tricks and some other illusions.

Reading Assignments:

Posted as they become necessary

Chapters 3 and 4: An intro to sets and counting. [pdf]

Counting poker hands: Class notes for Sept. 12 [pdf]

From text: Chapter 1 (for fun)

From text: Chapter 2 begin reading Sept. 14.

The 5 Card Trick: [pdf]

From the text, Chapter 3

From the text, Chapter 4 (review of permutations and combinations plus more).

From the text, Chapter 5 (begin Oct. 24)

NIM Games: [pdf]

More Game Notes: [pdf]

Converting numbers to Hackenbush strings: [pdf]

Written Assignments:

Posted as necessary

Assignment 1: Due Wednesday, Sept. 12 [pdf]

Assignment 2: Due Wednesday Sept. 19 [pdf]

Assignment 3: Due Wednesday, Sept. 26: [pdf]

Some Practice Problems from Chapter 3 (not to hand in) [pdf]

Assignment 4: Due Friday Oct. 18: [pdf]

Project on sports player ratings Due Monday, Dec. 3.

Assignment 5: Due Wednesday Nov. 7: [pdf]