Since 1950, the Prisoner's Dilemma has intrigued economists and amused fans of mathematics. It presents a situation in which two players acting to their own advantage do not do as well together as two players whose actions oppose their individual interests--hence, the dilemma. Variations of the Prisoner's Dilemma have appeared in diverse…

Ever had a roommate? Then you know that it can be difficult to share housekeeping duties. This article uses game theory to analyze situations in which there is a task to be done and two people who might do it. We then use our analysis to consider what game theory tells us about the gendered division of household labor.

Presents a mathematical game called the dinner-guest problem that deals with Steiner triple systems. (HM)

This article points out that many students, even of college age, lack familiarity with and confidence about probability problems. Several examples are given, including a "fair game" situation which would probably cause many readers some initial concern. (LS)

The game of "Sprouts" is explained, then several theorems concerning the game are stated and proved. (DT)

"The Price is Right" ("TPIR") is a rich source of examples of applied probability, combinatorics, and game theory. While some of the games played on stage by individual contestants stress a knowledge of pricing, many are also heavily based on probability. "TPIR" stage games are a treasury of interesting modules that can be effective learning tools…

Designed for the student who has completed the geometry series in the Quinmester Program, this guidebook on minimum course content provides an investigation of challenging mathematical activities which are not usually developed in other mathematics courses. The content includes brainteasers, puzzles, and game theory. Overall course objectives are…

Strategy games are used to expose teachers and their students to the techniques and strategies involved in true problem solving. (JT)

Provided is a mathematical recreation to strengthen student mathematics skills. The object of the activity is to build up an expression using the four digits of the current year, without rearranging the digits and using combinations of operations, to equal a prescribed value. Descriptions and examples are included. (RT)

This paper describes in detail the paper-and-pencil POE (Pelham Odd 'R Even) game, in which units of space are the allocated resources. The game is designed to provide an introduction to the rule structure common to the games of EQUATIONS, WFF 'N PROOF, and ON-SENTS & NON-SENTS. Techniques of playing POE, including goals, solutions, moves, scoring…

In February and May 1973, experimental forms of the mathematics game EQUATIONS were used in two seventh-grade classes which had been participating twice a week in EQUATIONS tournaments since the previous September. The purpose of the experimental games was to gain information as to the kinds of mathematical ideas players choose to concern…

This paper directs attention to the use of the EQUATIONS game as a research tool to study certain kinds of mathematical behavior, for example, the kinds of mathematical problems which players prefer to consider and to force their opponents to consider. Mathematical equations that meet certain game rule constraints constitute a problem space. A…

A survey was conducted with 104 seventh-grade students in four classrooms participating in EQUATIONS tournaments. The tournaments had been taking place on a weekly-basis for several weeks. The study compares four basic pedagogical assumptions behind the tournament structure with student opinion of the tournaments. Student responses to the survey…

This study focuses on the affective dimension of learning as influenced by a learning environment organized around instructional gaming. Experimental and control classes of seventh- and eighth-grade students taught by the same teachers for both semesters participated in the 1972-73 study. The experimental learning environment contained three…