Math 486: Game Theory Spring 2002

Instructor: Ben Davis
Email: bdavis@math.psu.edu
Web: http://www.math.psu.edu/bdavis/
Office: McAllister 322
Office Phone: 863-2036
Office Hours: M 11-12, Tu 9:30-10:30, W 11-12, or by appointment.

Text: I will hand out lecture notes. Also, I will occasionally refer to "Fun and Games," by Ken Binmore, which is on reserve in the mathematics library on the ground floor of McAllister.
Homework: There will be a weekly homework assignment due in class on Thursdays.
Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam.
Grades: Your grade is based on homework and exams. Homework is worth 70%, the midterm is worth 15%, and the final is worth 15%.
Missing or Late Work: Late homework may be accepted due to unavoidable circumstances, and only at my discretion. Missing homework will receive a score of zero. The lowest homework score will be dropped from the calculation of your course grade. Missing the midterm will result in a weight of 30% being given to the final for the purposes of computing the course grade. Missing the final will be dealt with at my discretion. No make-up exams will be given.
Academic Integrity: All Penn State Policies regarding ethics and honorable behavior apply to this course.

Game theory is an applications oriented subject that will, I hope, promote a fun and convivial classroom atmosphere. I will try to deliver clear lectures and be enthusiastic and approachable. For your part, do your best to stay on top of things, and don't hesitate to come visit me in office hours. In my experience, students can learn more in office hours than in any other part of the course.

Homework and Announcements

Due Thur 17 Jan Assignment 1.

Due Thur 24 Jan Assignment 2.

Due Thur 31 Jan Assignment 3.

The proof that Zermelo's algorithm gives subgame perfect equilibria given in the notes and in class is slightly wrong. Click here for some remarks about what is wrong and how to fix it.

For the exams, you will be expected to know the definitions and the methods used to solve problems, but you don't need to know the exact proofs that the methods work. So for example, you should know the definition of subgame perfect equilibria, a couple examples of them, some idea of why we care about them, and how to use Zermelo's algorithm to find them, but you don't need to be able to write the proof that Zermelo's algorithm finds them. It is always useful to at least know that ideas that go into the proofs, since that makes it easier to remember the methods.

Here are some typos in pages 26-31 of the lecture notes.

Due Thur 7 Feb Assignment 4.

Here are pages 33-36 of the lecture notes corresponding to the lecture of Thur 31 Jan.

Due Thur 14 Feb Assignment 5.

Midterm Info

The math 486 midterm will be in-class on Thur 28 Feb. It will focus on basic concepts and computations, covering the lectures through section 3.3 of the notes on 2xm-Matrix Games. The questions will be of the type and difficulty of the homeworks through the one due Thur 21 Feb. It will be a pencil-and-paper test with no recourse to the book, notes, calculators, computers, etc.

Due Thur 21 Feb Assignment 6.

Due Thur 28 Feb Assignment 7.

Here is the Midterm Solution.

Due Thur 21 March Assignment 8.

The OTC Java LP Solver will be helpful to solve some of the problems.

Change in Assignment 9

Problem #2 on Assignment 9 has been moved to Assignment 10. Only do problem #1 for this week.

Due Thur 28 March Assignment 9.

Due Thur 4 April Assignment 10.

Due Thur 11 April Assignment 11.

Change in Assignment 12

Problem #4 on Assignment 12 is now an extra-credit problem.

Due Thur 18 April Assignment 12.

Final Info

The math 486 midterm will be in-class on Thur 25 April. It will focus on basic concepts and computations, covering the material on pages 83-154 of the lecture notes. The questions will be of the type and difficulty of the homeworks and the examples in the notes. It will be a pencil-and-paper test with no recourse to the book, notes, calculators, computers, etc.