Any math games for big people?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for math games suitable for adults, focusing on engaging and complex challenges rather than basic arithmetic or traditional educational games. Participants explore various game concepts and ideas that incorporate advanced mathematical concepts and problem-solving elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for math games that involve complex problems, such as solving triple integrals in a narrative context.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that there is a gap in the market for such games.
  • Suggestions include games like "Hotel Cardinality," where players manage a hotel with a countable set of rooms and must rearrange occupants to accommodate new guests.
  • There is a playful proposal of different levels for the "Hotel Cardinality" game, referencing mathematical concepts like the Cantor set and Sierpiński carpet.
  • Participants mention Sudoku as a popular game, with one suggesting it has underlying mathematical patterns or algorithms for solving.
  • Another participant agrees that Sudoku can be programmed and acknowledges its mathematical nature, describing it as a permutative solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the interest in more complex math games for adults, but there are differing opinions on specific game ideas and the nature of mathematical patterns in games like Sudoku. The discussion remains open-ended without a consensus on the best game concepts.

Contextual Notes

Some ideas presented depend on the definitions of mathematical concepts and the assumptions about the complexity suitable for adult players. The discussion does not resolve the feasibility or design of the proposed games.

benorin
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Are there any math games (say, computer games) that are for big people? I don't want to hear about multiplication tables, or Math Blaster... I'm tallkin': "Oh no. Our hero's house is burning down: Can you help him solve these nasty tripple integrals in time :eek: ?" kinda stuff. Well, just asking.
 
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LOL. I think you've found a hole in the market. :biggrin:
 
benorin said:
Are there any math games (say, computer games) that are for big people? I don't want to hear about multiplication tables, or Math Blaster... I'm tallkin': "Oh no. Our hero's house is burning down: Can you help him solve these nasty tripple integrals in time :eek: ?" kinda stuff. Well, just asking.

hey...l tangoes are fun for all ages...

and then there are the math pentathlon games (you need to change the rules slightly to make it more challenging for adults)
 
There's a bunch of prize puzzles out there.
 
How about something like "Hotel Cardinality" where you're the manager of hotel with a countable set of rooms each of which is occupied. Some new guests arrive and your task is to rearrange the current occupants so as to make room for your new guests.

It takes time and patience to solve the problem but you're rewarded at the end with Level II!
 
Let me guess...

Level I:The Cantor set room layout
Level II:The Serpinski carpet room layout
Level III: Hilbert cube room layout...

What else?
 
Oh, you said countable. Right. So is an explicit bijection necessary? or is a proceedure for contruction sufficient?
 
SUDOKU! probably the latest japanese phase to come to north america in 2-3 years...or you could pick up a problem solving book like
Larson. "Problem Solving"
 
Pssh. Su Doku. I still think there's a mathematical pattern to it all, or at least a programmeable algorithm to solve them.
 
  • #10
of course there is...its rather easy to program. but its still none-the-less a mathematical (permutative) solution.
 

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