Ronald Gould, Goodrich C. White Professor of Mathematics at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, has been teaching the “Mathematics in Sports, Games and Gambling" freshman seminar since 1998, when the university first launched freshman seminars. In the course, Gould teaches about the mathematical principles underlying games such as poker, backgammon and various sports.

Gould first gives over the dry mathematics, and then gives students time to employ this knowledge in understanding poker and other card games. Even the game itself, however, is combined with mathematics instruction, with students being drilled mid-game on the probabilities and various outcomes of any given hand.

This fresh approach to mathematics instruction, combining poker play with math instruction, has garnered huge demand for the course from the Emory student body. Last year, 158 students reportedly applied for the seminar, though the number of places allotted for the course is just fifteen. The current class includes 16 students, as Gould reportedly tries adding at least one extra student to the class.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Sunday, 18 September 2005