Geller Lecture

Date: March 27, 2024

Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM

Location: Bloc 117

Speaker: Persi Diaconis, Stanford University

Title: THE MATHEMATICS OF SOLITAIRE

Abstract: People play 'ordinary solitaire' (Klondike) millions of times a day. Yet we mathematicians can't figure out 'what is the chance of winning?' 'how to play well' Indeed, even the chess and go playing programs alpha zero can't answer these questions (thank goodness, there are some things the computer can't (yet) do). I'll introduce an easier solitaire where we can figue things out. The math involved is some of the deepest of the past 50 years. It has application to the way fire burns and the rings left by coffee cups. AND of course, it's beautiful in its own right. I'll try to explain all to a general audience 'in English'.