Context
A MATLAB Live Script project completed with Jiannan Tang and Ariel Yao, covering one medium card-game problem and three Project Euler problems.
Problem
The main card-game problem asks for the expected gain under optimal play when drawing from a deck with equal numbers of red and black cards, where the player may stop at any time.
Method
The project models the card game with dynamic programming, using the remaining black and red cards as the state and comparing the value of stopping against the expected value of drawing.
Academic Relevance
The project connects applied mathematics, probability, numerical computing, optimization, and programming-based problem solving.
Reflection
This work is useful evidence of quantitative reasoning because it translates a decision problem into a state-based computational model rather than treating it as a purely verbal puzzle.
Current Progress
Completed as a course-based MATLAB project. PDF available.
Next Steps
A future extension could turn the model into a short interactive visualization explaining the optimal stopping boundary.