Calculated bets : computers, gambling, and mathematical modeling to win

250 Pages·2004·3.3 MB·English

by  Steven S Skiena

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CALCULATED BETS
Computers, Gambling, and Mathematical Modeling to Win
Thisisabookaboutagamblingsystemthatworks.Ittellshowtheauthorused
computersimulationsandmathematical-modelingtechniquestopredictthe
outcomeofjaialaimatchesandbetonthemsuccessfully,thusincreasinghis
initialstakebyover500percentinoneyear!Hismethodscanworkforanyone;
attheendofthebookhetellsthebestwaytowatchjaialaiandhowtobet
onit.
Withhumorandenthusiasm,Skienadetailsalife-longfascinationwiththe
computer prediction of sporting events. Along the way, he discusses other
gamblingsystems,bothsuccessfulandunsuccessful,forsuchgamesaslotto,
roulette,blackjack,andthestockmarket.Indeed,heshowshowhisjaialai
systemfunctionslikeaminiaturestock-tradingsystem.
Doyouwanttolearnaboutprogramtradingsystems,thefutureofInternet
gambling, and the real reason brokerage houses do not offer mutual funds
thatinvestatracetracksandfrontons?Howmathematicalmodelsareusedin
politicalpolling?Thedifferencebetweencorrelationandcausation?Ifyouare
interestedingamblingandmathematics,oddsarethisisthebookforyou!
StevenSkienaisProfessorofComputerScienceattheStateUniversityofNew
York,StonyBrook.Heistheauthoroftwopopularbooks,TheAlgorithmDesign
Manualandtheaward-winningComputationalDiscreteMathematics,anew
editionofwhichisbeingpublishedbyCambridgeUniversityPress.Heisthe
recipientoftheOfficeofNavalResearch(ONR)YoungInvestigator’sAwardand
theChancellor’sAwardforExcellenceinTeachingatStonyBrook.

OUTLOOKS
PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS AND
THE MATHEMATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Mathematicalcontentisnotconfinedtomathematics.EugeneWignernoted
theunreasonableeffectivenessofmathematicsinthephysicalsciences.Deep
mathematicalstructuresalsoexistinareasasdiverseasgeneticsandart,fi-
nanceandmusic.Thediscoveryofthesemathematicalstructureshasinturn
inspirednewquestionswithinpuremathematics.
IntheOutlooksseries,theinterplaybetweenmathematicsandotherdisci-
plinesisexplored.Authorsrevealmathematicalcontent,limitations,andnew
questionsarisingfromthisinterplay,providingaprovocativeandnovelview
for mathematicians, and for others an advertisement for the mathematical
outlook.
ManagingEditor
RonaldL.Graham,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego
EditorialBoard
JohnBarrow,UniversityofCambridge
FanChung,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego
IngridDaubechies,PrincetonUniversity
PersiDiaconis,StanfordUniversity
DonZagier,MaxPlanckInstitute,Bonn

CALCULATED BETS
COMPUTERS, GAMBLING, AND
MATHEMATICAL MODELING TO WIN
STEVEN SKIENA
StateUniversityofNewYorkatStonyBrook
MathematicalAssociationofAmerica
         
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom
  
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK
40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA
477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia
Ruiz de Alarcón 13, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Dock House, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
http://www.cambridge.org
©Steven S. Skiena 2004
First published in printed format 2001
ISBN 0-511-02869-5 eBook (Adobe Reader)
ISBN 0-521-80426-4 hardback
ISBN 0-521-00962-6 paperback
Tomyparents,MorrisandRiaSkiena,forintroducingmetojaialai.
Childrenlooktotheirparentstoteachthemvalues,andyoutaught
usthevalueofagoodquinielaatanearlyage.
AndtoournewdaughterBonnie;
Welookforwardtoteachingyouthebestofwhatourparentstaughtus.