How to Win at Games using Math

The math we learn in school is useful for science, engineering, and many other areas. But what about doing math just for math’s sake? In this camp, you’ll explore a new side of math that you don’t see in school – and maybe discover a new joy for math along the way. 

The theme? Games: board games, card games, pencil & paper games and hand games. If you are a math lover or a game lover, you’ll be sure to appreciate this camp!

Designed and facilitated by Dr. Mike Gelbart, this camp will aim to help you appreciate math in a fresh, engaging, and appropriately challenging experience for all campers, regardless of your affinity for school math. Math skeptics and math lovers are all welcome here!

When and Where?

Monday August 11 - Friday August 15, 2025.

9:00am-12:00noon.

Location: The Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST): 1490 West Broadway, Vancouver.

Who?

This camp is for students going into grades 5-7.

Why should you attend?

Earn a certificate of completion from the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology.

Learn from the best: Your facilitator is an award winning teacher who has taught at every level, from elementary to university.

Win at games: Are you competitive? Learn how to win at games using simple math concepts.

Learn something not taught in school: Discover how you can use and apply math in every day life NOT just for getting good grades in school.

What will you learn?

Day One: Numbers

We’ll kick off the camp with number games. You’ll use your arithmetic skills and your creativity with 33 to 99, strategize using factors and multiples in Tax Collector, and learn about modular arithmetic through the popular hand game of Chopsticks.

Day Two: Combinatorics

On Day Two we’ll explore combinatorics, the study of counting possible combinations and arrangements of objects. We will focus on two popular games, Set and Battleship, to explore questions like, How many possible cards are there in Set? Are they all in the box? And, How many arrangements of boats are there in Battleship? Is there a best square to guess?

Day Three: Probability

On Day Three we’ll play and analyze games of chance including card games and dice games. What are the odds of finding the cards you need in Go Fish, or the chances of scoring with 6 dice in Midnight? The ideas of probability are some of the most important when applying mathematics to the real world, for example in statistics, data science, AI and finance. 

Day Four: Game Theory

On Day Four we’ll explore adversarial games where our strategy must take into account our opponent’s strategy, which depends on our strategy, which depends on their strategy… you get the idea. This type of mathematical thinking lies in the domain of Game Theory, which we’ll explore through games like Undercut, Mediocrity, and variations of the classic game Rock Paper Scissors.

Day Five: Deductive Reasoning

The foundation of math is deductive reasoning and proof. On the last day we’ll consider questions like, Can we be sure that whoever goes first wins this game? Can we prove it with an argument that convinces our peers and teachers alike? Can we be sure that a game even ends? We’ll revisit games from earlier in the week, firming up our intuitions into logical arguments while having fun in the process!