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Mathematics on Your Video Games: Discussion with Matthew Lane | SF

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Thursday, September 28, 2017 - 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free an RSVP is encouraged.

The Bindery | 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA

Event Details

What can Assassin’s Creed teach you about the Traveling Salesman Problem? Is there a mathematical explanation for why Mario cannot jump through the Mushroom Kingdom? Matthew Lane explores the fascinating mathematics found in your favorite video games.

Did you know that every time you pick up the controller to your PlayStation or Xbox, you are entering a game world steeped in mathematics? Power-Up reveals the hidden mathematics in many of today’s most popular video games and explains why mathematical learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom or from books—you’re doing it without even realizing it when you play games on your cell phone.

In this lively and entertaining book, Matthew Lane, mathematician and cofounder of a school for aspiring web developers, discusses mathematical pursuit problems in classic games like Missile Command and explains how each time you play Tetris, you’re grappling with one of the most famous unsolved problems in all of mathematics and computer science. Along the way, Lane discusses why Family Feud and Pictionary make for ho-hum video games, how realism in video games (or the lack of it) influences learning, what video games can teach us about the mathematics of voting, and how video game designers use mathematics.

Free an RSVP is encouraged.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Free an RSVP is encouraged.
Categories: Fun & Games, Lectures & Workshops
Address: 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA