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Two-Person Game Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics)
"Game theory is an intellectual X-ray. It reveals the skeletal structure of those systems where decisions interact, and it reveals, therefore, the essential structure of both conflict and cooperation." — Kenneth Boulding
This fascinating and provocative book presents the fundamentals of two-person game theory, a mathematical approach to understanding human behavior and decision-making, Developed from analysis of games of strategy such as chess, checkers, and Go, game theory has dramatic applications to the entire realm of human events, from politics, economics, and war, to environmental issues, business, social relationships, and even "the game of love." Typically, game theory deals with decisions in conflict situations.
Written by a noted expert in the field, this clear, non-technical volume introduces the theory of games in a way which brings the essentials into focus and keeps them there. In addition to lucid discussions of such standard topics as utilities, strategy, the game tree, and the game matrix, dominating strategy and minimax, negotiated and nonnegotiable games, and solving the two-person zero-sum game, the author includes a discussion of gaming theory, an important link between abstract game theory and an experimentally oriented behavioral science. Specific applications to social science have not been stressed, but the methodological relations between game theory, decision theory, and social science are emphasized throughout.
Although game theory employs a mathematical approach to conflict resolution, the present volume avoids all but the minimum of mathematical notation. Moreover, the reader will find only the mathematics of high school algebra and of very elementary analytic geometry, except for an occasional derivative. The result is an accessible, easy-to-follow treatment that will be welcomed by mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike.
- ISBN-100486406865
- ISBN-13978-0486406862
- PublisherDover Publications
- Publication dateJanuary 20, 1999
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
- Print length240 pages
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From the Back Cover
"Game theory is an intellectual X-ray. It reveals the skeletal structure of those systems where decisions interact, and it reveals, therefore, the essential structure of both conflict and cooperation." — Kenneth Boulding
This fascinating and provocative book presents the fundamentals of two-person game theory, a mathematical approach to understanding human behavior and decision-making, Developed from analysis of games of strategy such as chess, checkers, and Go, game theory has dramatic applications to the entire realm of human events, from politics, economics, and war, to environmental issues, business, social relationships, and even "the game of love." Typically, game theory deals with decisions in conflict situations.
Written by a noted expert in the field, this clear, non-technical volume introduces the theory of games in a way which brings the essentials into focus and keeps them there. In addition to lucid discussions of such standard topics as utilities, strategy, the game tree, and the game matrix, dominating strategy and minimax, negotiated and nonnegotiable games, and solving the two-person zero-sum game, the author includes a discussion of gaming theory, an important link between abstract game theory and an experimentally oriented behavioral science. Specific applications to social science have not been stressed, but the methodological relations between game theory, decision theory, and social science are emphasized throughout.
Although game theory employs a mathematical approach to conflict resolution, the present volume avoids all but the minimum of mathematical notation. Moreover, the reader will find only the mathematics of high school algebra and of very elementary analytic geometry, except for an occasional derivative. The result is an accessible, easy-to-follow treatment that will be welcomed by mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike.
Unabridged Dover (1999) republication of the work published by the University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1970.
Product details
- Publisher : Dover Publications (January 20, 1999)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0486406865
- ISBN-13 : 978-0486406862
- Item Weight : 8.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,615,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #322 in Game Theory (Books)
- #4,057 in Mathematics (Books)
- #65,507 in Unknown
- Customer Reviews:
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Rapoport combines an interesting and rare mix of skills: a mathematical expertise, an extensive and deep knowledge of behavioral science and an amenable writing style. The result is little-great book that knits together work in decision-making, psychology, strategic thinking and pure game theory. In this remarkable and illuminating text the relevant concepts are introduced in a very clear way. In the last chapter the author offers a critical review assessing strong and weaknesses of Game Theory for purposes of modeling human behavior and situations characterized by conflicts of interest. The main conclusion is a remarkable one: the great value of game theory is in its power to reveal its own incompleteness.