Game Theory in Numb3rs (TV Show)

Game theory applications are used in every aspect of life including the agents' battles to locate and identify the criminals. Following video from TV show "Numb3rs" discusses the game theory implementation to find the assassin before he commits the crime. The idea is that by increasing the partial information about him and his potential moves, officers can think strategically and find out his potential moves and their probabilities, resulting in a mixed strategy equilibria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCinK2PUfyk&feature=player_embedded

Also, the video establishes an analogy between "Hide and Seek" and "Battleship" games. Assume that the assassin would like to make this look like an accident. Then his options are limited. For instance, he cannot use bombs which limit his options. As the agents come to know more about the criminal, they can limit the options and probabilities and can eventually solve the crime.

Strategic Moves during the last minutes of an NBA game

The following two articles explain some of the strategic moves that go on in the last minutes of an NBA game. We all know that depending on the point differential and remaining time, coaches constantly change their strategies to be ahead of the game. Due to the certainty feature of this timed sport, a tie option is 3 times more heavily observed than it normally would have been as can be seen in the second link. Strategies include slowing down the game, fouling, taking breaks, changing players etc. Over the past decades these strategies have matured and came almost to a perfection thanks to the repetition of the game. Coach of a team estimates the potential moves of the other team, and calculates his best move to get the highest payoff. Since the major aim is to be strategically unpredictable to the other team, the dynamic/competitive nature of basketball results in a mixed strategy equilibrium.

http://www.sportshistory.us/uncertainty.html

http://cheeptalk.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/the-overtime-spike-in-nba-basketball