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Loading... On Numbers and Games (original 1976; edition 2000)by John Horton Conway
Work InformationOn Numbers and Games by John Horton Conway (1976)
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"ONAG, as the book is commonly known, is one of those rare publications that sprang to life in a moment of creative energy and has remained influential for over a quarter of a century. Originally written to define the relation between the theories of transfinite numbers and mathematical games, the resulting work is a mathematically sophisticated but eminently enjoyable guide to game theory. By defining numbers as the strengths of positions in certain games, the author arrives at a new class, the surreal numbers, that includes both real numbers and ordinal numbers. These surreal numbers are applied in the author's mathematical analysis of game strategies. The additions to the Second Edition present recent developments in the area of mathematical game theory, with a concentration on surreal numbers and the additive theory of partizan games."--Provided by publisher. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)519.3Natural sciences and mathematics Mathematics Applied Mathematics, Probabilities Game TheoryLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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(The copy catalogued here is the second edition of 2001; the original dates from 1976, when I first read it.)
This ranks with "Mathematics made difficult" and most of Martin Gardner's mathematical diversions as essential reading for enthusiasts of mathematics. It reminds you why it's fun. ( )