Mathematics & statistics
Introduction to Game Theory: a Discovery Approach
Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom
Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom / Linfield University · PDF dated 12 January 2026 · English · Published 2026
A discovery-based introduction to strategies, payoff matrices, zero-sum and non-zero-sum games through activities and exercises.
- Learning stage
- College introduction
- Prerequisites
- Elementary algebra; some activities refer to externally hosted Sage tools.
- PDF pages
- 121 in this file
- Editorial review
- 2026-10-29
Contents
Choose the section you need. Listening availability is shown for each section.
Preface
What is Game Theory?
What is Game Theory?
Players and Strategies
Game Matrices and Payoff Vectors
Two-Person Zero-Sum Games
Two-Person Zero-Sum Games
Introduction to Two-Person Zero-Sum Games
Finding Strategies
Probability and Expected Value
A Game of Chance
Equilibrium Points
Strategies for Zero-Sum Games and Equilibrium Points
Popular Culture: Rationality and Perfect Information
Repeated Two-Person Zero-sum Games
Repeated Two-Person Zero-sum Games
Introduction to Repeated Games
Mixed Strategies: Graphical Solution
Using Sage to Graph Lines and Solve Equations
Mixed Strategies: Expected Value Solution
Liar's Poker
Solving Systems of Equations Using Matrices
Undercut
Non-Zero-Sum Games
Non-Zero-Sum Games
Introduction to Two-Player Non-Zero-Sum Games
Prisoner's Dilemma and Chicken
A Class-Wide Experiment
What Makes a Prisoner's Dilemma?
Another Multiplayer Experiment
Volunteer's Dilemma
Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma
Popular Culture: Prisoner's Dilemma and Chicken
Back Matter
Back Matter
References
Index
Sources and permissions
The author and publisher remain the source of this textbook. Permission information applies to the specific files in this edition.
Author, publisher, and discovery sources
Authors: Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom
Publisher: Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom / Linfield University
- Discovered through Open Textbook Library: Source record · Checked 2026-10-29
- Discovered through Open Textbook Library: Source record · Checked 2026-10-25
CC BY-SA 4.0
Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom. Introduction to Game Theory: a Discovery Approach. Jennifer Firkins Nordstrom / Linfield University. PDF dated 12 January 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes: Original PDF bytes are unchanged. Catalog metadata and page viewing are supplied by iReadAll. No endorsement implied. Structured extraction, audio, translation and independent image redistribution are not approved.
Checked 2026-10-29