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Areas of Science Pure Mathematics
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
*Note: For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

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Abstract

Almost all of the games we play are based on math in some way or another. Card games, board games, and computer games are designed using statistics, probabilities, and algorithms. Begin by reading about games and game theory. Then you can choose your favorite game and investigate the mathematical principles behind how it works. Can combinatorial game theory help you to win two-player games of perfect knowledge such as go, chess, or checkers? (Weisstein, 2006; Watkins, 2004) In a multi-player game like Dots and Boxes, does the first player have an advantage? Can you formulate a winning strategy against an opponent? In single-player games can you beat the game with an algorithm? Can you invent your own game using mathematical concepts? Can you describe the math behind traditional or cultural games? Artificial Intelligence: Teaching the Computer to Play Tic-Tac-Toe

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MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Playing Games." Science Buddies, 23 Mar. 2018, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Math_p033/pure-mathematics/playing-games?class=AQVOs9m1W3e9zvYm4LoCnn6sgE0L9xz3ZQxXH7Xwngg_NSZl26DXyAPWBXRj_6iH63IyTI7GRwHrw9N0hEydfTxLFZg9B2n0s1Trp3anqYr_XQ. Accessed 16 Dec. 2019.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2018, March 23). Playing Games. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Math_p033/pure-mathematics/playing-games?class=AQVOs9m1W3e9zvYm4LoCnn6sgE0L9xz3ZQxXH7Xwngg_NSZl26DXyAPWBXRj_6iH63IyTI7GRwHrw9N0hEydfTxLFZg9B2n0s1Trp3anqYr_XQ


Last edit date: 2018-03-23

Bibliography

  • Watkins, J., 2004. Across the Board: The Mathematics of Chessboard Problems. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  • Weisstein, E.W., 2006 "Games." From MathWorld—A Wolfram Web Resource. [accessed: 5/1/06] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/topics/Games.html

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Experimental Procedure

For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.

Share your story with Science Buddies!

I did this project Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.

Ask an Expert

The Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.

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