Math 190

Mathematics in Games, Sports, and Gambling

Fall 2009


Professor: Ron Gould

Office: E432 Mathematics and Sciences Building Office Hours: 3:00-4:00 MWF (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: Mathematics in Games, Sports, and Gambling by R. Gould, CRC Press

Exams and Grades:


There will be two in-class hour exams and a final. In class exams are scheduled for: Monday, October 5 and Friday, November 20
90 and above average - A 80-89 - B 70-79 - C 60-69 - D below - F




  • OUR GOALS: Our goals are to gain an insight into probability and statistics as well as some topics in discrete mathematics. We will use the models of various games and sports as our examples. We will see many unusual instances where knowing some elementary mathematics can gain us an advantage or insight into a topic. Applications will be stressed.

  • Policy: Cell phones and other devices are shut off when you are in class.



    Reading Assignments:

    Posted as they become necessary

  • Read Appendix on Set Theory (pages 319-325) by September 2.

  • Read Chapter 1, sections 1.1-1.3 by Sept. 4

  • Read Chapter 1, section 1.4 by Sept. 9

  • Chapter 1 sections 1.5-1.8 by Sept. 21

  • Section 1.9 by Sept. 25

  • Chapter 2 Sections 2.1-2.4 by Oct. 2

  • Chapter 4 Sections 4.2, 4.2.1 (pages 135-140), sections 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3 Chapter 2 Section 2.8

  • Chapter 2 Sections 2.5, 2.6 by Oct. 30

  • Chapter 3 Sections 3.1-.3.3 by Nov. 6

  • Chapter 7 Section 7.2, 7.3

  • Chapter 8 Sections 8.1-8.3 by Nov. 16



    Written Assignments:

    Posted as necessary

    • Assignment 1: Individual Assignment: pages 323-325: problems 9.1.1 parts 3 and 4; 9.1.2 parts 1, 2 and 3; 9.1.4; 9.1.6 Due Sept. 4.


    • Assignment 2: Individual Assignment: pages 11-12 problems 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.5, 1.3.7 and pages 21-23 problems 1.4.5, 1.4.8, 1.4.9 and 1.4.11 Due Sept. 11


    • Assignment 3: Individual Assignment: section 1.5, problems 1.5.3, 1.5.5, 1.5.7, 1.5.9, section 1.8, problems 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 1.6.4, 1.6.9 Due Sept. 18


    • Assignment 4: Team Assignment: Section 1.7 problems 1.7.1, 1.7.2, 1.7.4, Section 1.8 problems 1.8.1, 1.8.3, 1.8.8, Section 1.9 problems 1.9.1, 1.9.3


    • Assignment 5: Team Assignment: Section 2.2 problems 2.2.5, 2.2.7 Section 2.3 problems 2.3.2, 2.3.4, 2.3.7 Section 2.4 problems 2.4.1, 2.4.7


    • Assignment 6: Team Assignment: Section 4.2: Problems 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.5 Section 2.8: Problems 2.8.4, 2.8.5, 2.8.9, 2.8.11 Due Monday, Oct.26


    • Assignment 7: Team Assignment: Section 2.5: Problems 2.5.3, 2.5,4, 2.5.5 Section 2.6: Problems 2.6.1, 2.6.3, 2.6.4 Due: Monday Nov. 2


    • Assignment 8: Team Assignment: Section 3.2 Problems 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.6, 3.2.10 Section 3.3: Problems 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.5 Due Monday, Nov. 9


    • Assignment 9: Team Assignment: Section 7.3 Problem 7.3.4 Section 8.2 Problems 8.2.2, 8.2.3, 8.2.5(1) Section 8.3 Problems 8.3.2, 8.3.3 Due by Wed. Nov 18