While dealing cards in a much contested game for 500, I was pondering out loud on the mathematics behind shuffling. How many shuffles till all the cards are back in their original position? What is the optimal number of shuffles?
To be clear, a shuffle is where you split the deck in two and combine the two halves with every second card being from one of the halves.
People had theories but couldn't mathematically prove it.
Then Shira and I asked Lindsay this question last night as we dropped her off at the gym after work. Lindsay studied mathematics at MIT.
This is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment