Mathematics of Games of Strategy: Theory and Applications

Book Details

• Author: Melvin Dresher

• Publisher: Dover

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9780486642161

• Cover: Paperback

• Pages: 184

• Release Date: 01-12-1981

• Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches

About the Book

Melvin Dresher, a distinguished research mathematician from the Rand Corporation, offers an exceptionally lucid and insightful introduction to the mathematical theory of games of strategy in this classic text. With its accessible presentation, Games of Strategy: Theory and Applications is a powerful tool for readers from diverse disciplines—ranging from economics and military strategy to business and operations research.

This book doesn't merely develop a theoretical foundation; it also provides real-world applications by illustrating how to construct game models for various competitive and conflicting situations. Dr. Dresher explores how decision-making under uncertainty—even in non-game contexts—can be interpreted through game-theoretic lenses, yielding profound insights.

The early chapters cover finite games, with illustrative examples from parlor games to tactical military scenarios. Key concepts such as optimal strategies and the celebrated minimax theorem are thoroughly explained with elementary mathematical proofs, ensuring clarity without the need for advanced mathematics.

As the book progresses, it explores infinite strategy games, introducing essential mathematical tools like probability distribution functions and Stieltjes integrals. The treatment of timing games and tactical games, along with a final chapter on moment space theory, adds depth and dimension to the analysis of strategic interaction.

This is more than a mathematics book—it's a practical guide to strategic thinking in environments where risk, competition, and incomplete information dominate. Whether you're a student, researcher, strategist, or decision-maker, this foundational work delivers both the theoretical grounding and applied perspective essential to mastering the art and science of game theory.