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 answer02:35 Mental arithmetic and the human element03:30 Calculators, AI, and the future of coding05:47 What does math know about winning that intuition gets wrong?06:02 Coincidences and the birthday paradox10:16 Why games are a microcosm for pattern-seeking16:40 What games teach that the classroom doesn't16:52 Gambler's ruin: how to get to the concert20:30 The paradox: why casinos aren't afraid22:30 What does "winning" really mean?23:29 Wordle streaks vs. average guesses27:07 Rubik's Cube, blackjack, and why some games never get old35:38 Does math take the mystery out of games? Follow Arthur Benjamin on his website:(https://www.arthurbenjamin.info/)Subscribe for more on math, AI, technology, and the systems running the world. Follow Breaking Math onSubstack (https://breakingmath.substack.com/)X (https://x.com/breakingmathpod)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/breakingmathmedia/)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/breakingmath.bsky.social)Website (https://www.breakingmath.io/)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingMathPod)Follow Noah onInstagram (https://www.instagram.com/profnoahgian/)X (https://x.com/ProfNoahGian)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/profnoahgian.bsky.social)Follow Autumn onX (https://x.com/1autumn_leaf)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/1autumnleaf.bsky.social)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/1autumnleaf/)Substack (https://substack.com/@1autumnleaf)email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com