Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory

Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory

Instructor: Dr. Tom Morley

20,462 already enrolled

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

211 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

211 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

This course will cover the mathematical theory and analysis of simple games without chance moves.

Hello and welcome to Games Without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory! The topic for this first week is Let's play a game: Students will learn what a combinatorial game is, and play simple games.

What's included

4 videos10 readings

4 videos Total 19 minutes

Introduction to Two Players Left and Right 8 minutes
What is a Combinatorial Game? 5 minutes
Example Problem 1 minute
Example Problem Solution 4 minutes

10 readings Total 100 minutes

Start Here 10 minutes
Consent Form 10 minutes
Syllabus 10 minutes
Course Logistics 10 minutes
About The Instructor 10 minutes
Get More From Georgia Tech 10 minutes
Start Here (Week 1) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 1 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

The topics for this second week is Playing several games at once, adding games, the negative of a game. Student will be able to add simple games and analyze them.

What's included

5 videos5 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 26 minutes

Cutcake and Adding Games 10 minutes
The 0 Game 7 minutes
Adding Games 6 minutes
Quiz Problems 2 minutes
Week 2 Quiz Review 2 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 2) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 2 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Earn a Georgia Tech Badge/Certificate/CEUs 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Quiz Week 2 30 minutes
Mid-Course Survey 1 30 minutes

The topics for this third week is Comparing games. Students will determine the outcome of simple sums of games using inequalities.

What's included

6 videos5 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 25 minutes

Ordering Games 5 minutes
Example and a Problem 5 minutes
Problem Solution 1 minute
Ski Jumps 7 minutes
Games That Are Not Numbers 4 minutes
Proof and Quiz 3 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 3) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 3 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 3 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz Week 3 30 minutes

The topics for this fourth week is Simplicity and numbers. How to play win numbers. Students will be able to determine which games are numbers and if so what numbers they are.

What's included

5 videos5 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 25 minutes

Some Numbers Are Games 6 minutes
Some Games Are Numbers 7 minutes
Simplicity 5 minutes
More Numbers 5 minutes
Quiz Preview 2 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 4) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 4 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 4 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Quiz 4 30 minutes
Mid-Course Survey 2 30 minutes

The topics for this fifth week is Simplifying games: Dominating moves, reversible moves. Students will be able to simplify simple games.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 33 minutes

New Ways of Simplifying Games 8 minutes
Examples From Nim 4 minutes
General Reversible 10 minutes
Toads and Frogs 12 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 5) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 5 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 5 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 5 30 minutes

The topics for this sixth week is Nim: Students will be able to play and analyze impartial games.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 25 minutes

Nim and How to Win 7 minutes
Impartial Games, Reversible Moves 5 minutes
Examples, Mex 5 minutes
All Impartial Games Are Equivalent to Nim 8 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 6) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 6 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 6 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 6 30 minutes

The topic for this seventh and final week is Where to go from here.

What's included

4 videos4 readings2 assignments

4 videos Total 15 minutes

Infinite Games 2 minutes
Loopy Games 3 minutes
Mean Values, Hot, Cold, Sente, Gote 4 minutes
Atomic Weights 5 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Start Here (Week 7) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 7 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 7 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Bonus Quiz 30 minutes
Final Week Survey 30 minutes

What's included

1 reading

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(24 ratings)

Dr. Tom Morley

Georgia Institute of Technology

1 Course 20,462 learners

Offered by

Georgia Institute of Technology

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Reviewed on Jan 12, 2018

Nice course and nice lecturer, I have learnt a lot of new things of Combinatorial Game theory. Thank you.

Reviewed on Apr 2, 2022

Quite an interesting part of GT, nicely explained.

Reviewed on May 1, 2023

Thank you, our Teacher, Professor / instructor and all members in this course as well as Coursera team.I do thank.

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