A-Level Further Maths · Decision Mathematics
Game Theory
What is it
Game theory analyses situations where the outcome for each participant depends on the choices of others, using tools like payoff matrices to find optimal strategies, including the concept of a stable strategy where neither player benefits from changing their choice alone.
Why it matters
Game theory formalises strategic decision-making in situations from business competition to auctions to evolutionary biology — it's a genuinely interdisciplinary topic that connects mathematics to economics, politics, and psychology.
Exam tip
Always check for a dominant strategy (one that's always at least as good regardless of the opponent's choice) before analysing the full payoff matrix — spotting a dominant strategy immediately simplifies many game theory problems.
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