遊戲和博彩中的數學(第2版英文版)(精)/美國數學會經典影印系列
內容大鋼
本書介紹並發展了一些重要而美妙的初等數學知識，用於理性分析各種博彩和遊戲活動。大多數標準的賭場遊戲（輪盤賭、21點、Keno）、一些社交遊戲（雙陸棋、撲克、橋牌）和各種其他活動（國家彩票、賽馬等）都用數學方式加以處理。所涉及的數學範圍從可預測的概率、期望和二項式係數的概念到一些不太為人知的初等博弈論思想。
第二版增加了新材料：體育博彩及其背後的數學；博弈論在撲克的虛張聲勢中的應用，以及與德州撲克現象相關的內容；Nash均衡概念及其在流行文化中的出現；用於實踐和課堂使用的遊戲及Java小程序的互聯網鏈接。
讀者僅需要具備一定的高中代數知識。大多數章節的結尾處都包括與文中所討論觀點相關的遊戲形式的練習題。部分練習題的解答放在書後。
作者介紹
(美)愛德華·帕克爾|責編:李華英
愛德華·帕克爾（Ed Packel）received his BA from Amherst College in 1963 and his PhD from MIT in 1967. He is currently the Volwiler Profes-sor of Mathematics at Lake Forest College, where he has taught mathematics and com-puter science courses since 1971.
Packel's initial work in functional analy-sis resulted in several research articles and an introductory graduate text. Subsequent research has involved game theory, social choice theory and information-based com-plexity. He is also heavily involved in using technology, primarily Math-ematica, as a tool for teaching and research in mathematics. This work has led to publication of a variety of articles, several Mathematica-related books and fifteen years of Rocky Mountain Mathematica July workshops.
The author has a healthy interest in games and sports. His fascina-tion with bridge and backgammon is complemented with a long-running monthly applied probability seminar (alias poker game). He has played and coached soccer, competed as a distance runner, and enjoys the game of golf.
目錄
Preface to the First Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
1 The Phenomenon of Gambling
1.1 A selective history
1.2 The gambler in fact and fiction
2 Finite Probabilities and Great Expectations
2.1 The probability concept and its origins
2.2 Dice, cards, and probabilities
2.3 Roulette, probability and odds
2.4 Compound probabilities: The rules of the game
2.5 Mathematical expectation and its application
2.6 Exercises
3 Backgammon and Other Dice Diversions
3.1 Backgammon oversimplified
3.2 Rolling spots and hitting blots
3.3 Entering and bearing off
3.4 The doubling cube
3.5 Craps
3.6 Chuck-a-Luck
3.7 Exercises
4 Permutations, Combinations, and Applications
4.1 Careful counting: Is order important?
4.2 Factorials and other notation
4.3 Probabilities in poker
4.4 Betting in poker: A simple model
4.5 Distributions in bridge
4.6 Keno type games
4.7 Exercises
5 Play it Again Sam: The Binomial Distribution
5.1 Games and repeated trials
5.2 The binomial distribution
5.3 Beating the odds and the "law" of averages
5.4 Betting systems
5.5 A brief blackjack breakthrough
5.6 Exercises
6 Elementary Game Theory
6.1 What is game theory?
6.2 Games in extensive form
6.3 Two-person games in normal form
6.4 Zero-sum games
6.5 Nonzero-sum games, Nash equilibria and the prisoners' dilemma
6.6 Simple n-person games
6.7 Power indices
6.8 Games computers play
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