|
Mathematica Trainer and Consultant: Ed Packel
Address
Lake Forest College
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
555 North Sheridan Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045-2338
web: http://math.lfc.edu/packel
email: packel@math.lfc.edu
phone: 847-735-5155
fax: 847-735-6291
Background
Ed Packel, Volwiler Professor of Mathematics at Lake Forest College,
has
been actively involved since 1989 in using Mathematica in his
teaching, in lectures and presentations, and in a variety of workshops in
the United States and Australia. Mathematica-related books include
Animating Calculus: Mathematica Notebooks for the Laboratory
(with Stan Wagon) and Mathematica for Mathematics Teachers, available
in the Wolfram
Research Online Bookstore.
Ed's "Mathematica in the Mountains" (now called "Rocky Mountain
Mathematica") introductory workshop, offered in
Silverthorne, Colorado, for the past four summers, elicited the following
testimonial: "The enthusiasm and excitement by the instructor was
contagious. The presentations were concise, pertinent, clear, and
certainly
usable at our institution. The materials...will be useful in several of
the classes I teach (physics, physical chemistry, mathematics) for some
time in the future" (Charles Wakefield, The University of Texas
of the Permian Basin).
Ed has an undergraduate degree from Amherst College and a Ph.D. in
mathematics (functional analysis) from MIT. He has published over 40
mathematics papers and has authored, in addition to his
Mathematica books,
The Mathematics of Games and Gambling (winner of the M.A.A. Book
Prize)
and Functional Analysis: A Short Course.
Consulting Information
Ed Packel has used Mathematica since 1989 and has been a Mathematica
consultant since 1995.
- Expertise
- Probability theory, game theory
- Simulation applied to gambling games
- Mathematica in teaching mathematics
- Major Clients
- Numerous colleges/universities in the U.S., one in Australia, one
in Thailand
- Individual tutorials with an Arthur Andersen consultant
- Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
- Education
- B.A. in Mathematics, Amherst College, 1963
- Ph.D. in Mathematics (Functional Analysis), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 1967
- Computer Language Experience in Addition to Mathematica
- Platform Experience
- Languages Spoken
- Geographic Area of Operation
Consulting Case Study
Situation
Casino wishes to investigate relationship between longevity of play
and house edge for poker video.
Critical Issue
In what sense does a maximum machine payoff give added time of play
for fixed initial stake?
Reason
Client wants to advertise more effectively and also accurately in
mathematical sense.
Capabilities Needed
Calculations and a general program that will give answers to issue
raised above are required.
Provided
Mathematica output and general Mathematica code to answer question
raised above were provided.
Result
Over a period of three weeks Mathematica routines were developed to simulate
various situations and provide results. Client gained a more accurate picture
of what kind of claims could be made with mathematical integrity. This enabled
client to fine-tune casino's advertising and make it more specific and accurate.
| 
