Marcus du Sautoy, an award-winning mathematician and Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, delves into the fascinating world of games and their mathematical underpinnings. He explains the best strategies for games like Connect 4 and Monopoly, linking them to mathematical concepts. Du Sautoy shares insights into the cultural history of games and their role in society, along with a philosophical exploration of play’s purpose. From ancient origins to the evolution of games, he reveals how mathematics enriches our gaming experiences.

You know the saying: “There are no shortcuts in life.” What if that saying is just wrong? In his new book Thinking Better: The Art of the Shortcut in Math and Life, the mathematician Marcus du Sautoy argues that shortcuts can be applied to practically anything: music, psychotherapy, even politics. Our latest installment of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club.

Marcus du Sautoy, a Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, dives into the strategic depths of classic games like Connect 4 and Monopoly. He reveals mathematical tactics to elevate your game, explaining how pi can influence Rock Paper Scissors outcomes. The discussion also covers the evolution of gameplay from board games to digital realms, emphasizing the resurgence of physical games in a tech-driven world. With anecdotes on holiday gaming and the unexpected joys of Dungeons and Dragons, du Sautoy showcases how games shape society while honing our competitive instincts.

Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy shares tips for winning at Monopoly, while games designer Dave Neale explains how games develop theory of mind. Comedian Jess Fostekew admits to becoming a ruthless gamer. Discussion on board game dynamics, strategies, historical origins, and emotional experiences during gameplay.

In a programme first broadcast in 2017, Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Gauss (1777-1855), widely viewed as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He was a child prodigy, correcting his father's accounts before he was 3, dumbfounding his teachers with the speed of his mental arithmetic, and gaining a wealthy patron who supported his education. He wrote on number theory when he was 21, with his Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, which has influenced developments since. Among his achievements, he was the first to work out how to make a 17-sided polygon, he predicted the orbit of the minor planet Ceres, rediscovering it, he found a way of sending signals along a wire, using electromagnetism, the first electromagnetic telegraph, and he advanced the understanding of parallel lines on curved surfaces. With Marcus du Sautoy Professor of Mathematics and Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of OxfordColva Roney-Dougal Reader in Pure Mathematics at the University of St AndrewsAnd Nick Evans Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of SouthamptonProducer: Simon Tillotson.