21movie directed by Robert Luketic is a film based on a true story, and it involves six students trained to become professionals in card counting, by using the knowledge acquired in class, these students takes Vegas casinos for millions ensuing their innumerable winnings. Essentially, for these students to increase their chance of winning the card game Blackjack at Vegas casinos, they basically “count cards” a trick acquired from class (Mezrich 67). Evidently, it is ostensible that this movie has a lot of mathematics involved, the most profound mathematics technique incorporated into this movie is the “counting of cards”, a technique published in the book entitled "Beat the Dealer" by Edward O. Thorpe. By focussing on the movie mentioned herein, this paper will expound and explain ways in which math is used in that movie.
The Fibonacci Series is a mathematical technique that entails series and sequence of numbers, in Ben's 21st birthday; Fibonacci Series is clearly defined ensuing the fact that the students employ the use of this technique to define subsequent and successive numbers. Secondly, the Monty hall problem is depicted in this movie. Regarding the Monty hall problem, the student was required to choose a door where one door had had a car behind it while the other two had goats behind them, to make a wise decision, the student was required to use mathematical techniques and knowledge to choose a door. The third mathematical technique incorporated in this movie is the Newton-Raphson method, in mathematics, this technique is normally used to deduce the root of an equation. The procedure of finding the root is to first make a guess of the root say (X) then subsequently use this value to generate the real value of (X), which will probably be closer than the guess value. Lastly. The most used technique in this movie is the “counting of cards” technique (Mezrich 65). This technique is normally incorporated in blackjack casino games, in casinos; card counting provides a framework under which a player can bet more with less risk during an instance where the count minimizes losses wherein offering advantage to the player during an unfavourable count.
Arguably, this movie implies a lot to the person watching it. This movie not only improve an individual’s knowledge in mathematics but also offers him or her a basis under which the learned mathematics techniques can apply in the real life situations. Ensuing the fact that students in the movie win in casinos by basically employing the counting of cards technique, it is apparent that mathematical techniques acquire in call can be used by an individual to gain the monetary advantage not only in casinos but also in other real life situations.
It is important for the instructor and other students to care what I have learned from this movie owing the fact that, it will open up their minds and expand their scopes regarding the mathematical techniques in the movie and those that were not dealt with in the film. Apart from the techniques incorporated in the film, other related areas in line with those dealt with in the movie could be studied. In counting cards technique, basics on probability and statistics could be improved in working towards becoming a profession. In Newton-Raphson method, other methods could be used to deduce the root of the equation as a way of validating the technique.
In a nutshell, it is important to note that, mathematics techniques learned in class has way many significance not only in solving virtual class problems but also in real life situations. Ensuing the fact that the six students in the movie clearly exhibit ways in which some mathematical techniques can be applied to life situations, math can, therefore, be termed as a way of life.
Works Cited
Mezrich, Ben. 21: Bringing Down the House-Movie Tie-In: The Inside Story of Six MIT
