Game theory is a really cool branch of applied mathematics which helps one make an appropriate decision by weighing the various costs and benefits. It’s been applied everywhere from games like rock paper scissors to studies of how tennis players play at Wimbledon. A lot of theoretical analysis has gone into it and it’s also had a rich history full of interesting stories. This class will introduce the topic of game theory in a variety of ways. First off, there are lots of fairly simple games that illustrate key game theory concepts well, games like the prisoner’s dilemma and various Keynesian beauty problem variants, which the students will play. From these, we will discuss core theoretical concepts. Additionally, we will touch on the historical points of game theory, notably the infamous Monty Hall Problem. We will conclude by looking at applications of game theory to real life. This course is designed to be very interactive. Games will be played with small subsets of the students. A Projector is needed, whiteboard/chalkboard is desired but not critical.

What do these three have in common? What problem did one magazine columnist get right but fooled thousands of mathematicians? Come learn about Game Theory and find out. We'll discuss classic problems, learn some of their cool history, and most importantly play some games too. As a bonus, winners get candy!

There's a runaway trolley (train), people tied to the tracks, and you have a decision to make. But what is the correct decision and why? And more importantly, how are memes involved. We'll take a look at this iconic thought experiment, some of the philosophies behind it, and discuss why it actually matters today. Turns out, artificial intelligence has some tough decisions to make.