Elementary school math idiom story Tian Ji horse racing

Tian Ji Horse Racing (Mathematical Story)

During the Warring States Period, Qi Weiwang and General Tian Ji raced horses. Each of them has a third-class horse, and they choose a third-class horse to participate in the competition. Tian Ji's horse is inferior to Qi Weiwang's at every level, so he lost several times in a row. On this day, King Qi invited Tian Ji to play again. Tian Ji was worried and felt that he was going to lose again. At this time, his doorman Sun Bin said to him, "General, I have a way to keep you from losing money." Tian Ji expressed doubts about this. He said, "My horses at every level are worse than the king's. How can I win? " Sun Bin leaned close to Tian Ji's ear and whispered a few words. Tian Ji listened and nodded with a smile. The game has already started. The King of Qi sent his superior horses first, and Sun Bin asked Tian Ji to come out first. Of course, King Qi easily won the first game. In the second game, the king of Qi sent a winning horse. This time, Tian Ji took Sun Bin's advice and sent his own first-class horse. After a fierce race, Tian Ji's horse won. In the last race, the remaining inferior horses of the King of Qi competed with Tian Ji's Zhongma, and Tian Ji won. After three sets, Tian Ji won with two wins and one loss, and won with 2:/kloc-0. Tian Ji turned defeat into victory, which surprised the king of Qi. Tian Ji took the opportunity to recommend Sun Bin to him. The King of Qi appreciated Sun Bin's talent and made him a strategist. Later, Sun Bin repeatedly made outstanding achievements and won many victories for Qi. This story is famous in history, not only because it is interesting, but also because it contains profound military thoughts and uses mathematical knowledge. This method of studying struggle was later called "game theory" or "game theory". During the Second World War, this knowledge played a great role in the military.