Hugh Cheng ’25 is studying game theory and attempting to create an interactive website to explain game theory, a concept in economics, to the masses for his Senior Independent Study.
Cheng said game theory is heavily related to a certain multitude of topics.
“Unlike more abstract fields, game theory lends itself to very tangible applications,” Cheng said. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how game theory has a relationship with economics, biology and ethics.”
Mathematics Teacher Kevin Weis is serving as Cheng’s faculty advisor. Weis said that he enjoys when Cheng lectures him.
“Hugh proceeds to give me a lesson [and] I do my best to follow,” Weis said. “I am learning from a student who, we both know, is much smarter than I am. It’s especially enjoyable.”
This semester, Cheng said the weekly meetings with Mr. Weis have helped him further grasp the material deeper.
“I’ve worked my way through an introductory game theory textbook,” Cheng said. “In my weekly meetings with Weis, I prepare mini-lessons and I’m forced to understand the material on a deeper level.”
Cheng said he decided to do his study on game theory because of the chance of further developing mathematical strategies.
“I wanted to learn about something I was interested in, but not too knowledgeable about,” Cheng said. “Some of my favorite math problems in competitions involved developing strategies for interesting combinatorial games, and I was excited at the prospect of formalizing some of these concepts.”