Can Math Make You Win? Gambler's Ruin, & Bingo Paradoxes with Arthur Benjamin

Mathematician, mental-math performer, and backgammon grandmaster Arthur Benjamin joins Noah and Autumn to talk about his book How to Win. Together they explore what mathematics knows about winning that human intuition gets wrong: coincidences, the birthday paradox, gambler's ruin, and why the house wins even when you reach your goal more than half the time.

Timeline:

00:00 Can math ruin the fun of games?

00:38 Why people play for the challenge, not the answer

02:35 Mental arithmetic and the human element

03:30 Calculators, AI, and the future of coding

05:47 What does math know about winning that intuition gets wrong?

06:02 Coincidences and the birthday paradox

10:16 Why games are a microcosm for pattern-seeking

16:40 What games teach that the classroom doesn't

16:52 Gambler's ruin: how to get to the concert

20:30 The paradox: why casinos aren't afraid