In 2012, at a gaming convention, board game designer posed a challenge to mathematician Eric Harshbarger: create dice to decide the first player without any chance of a tie. The aim was to expedite the game’s start. Harshbarger, a senior lecturer at Auburn University, was intrigued by this problem that lacked an obvious solution, typical for mathematicians.
After years of collaboration with computer scientists and mathematicians globally, Harshbarger developed a set of 12-sided dice for two, three, or four players that guaranteed a fair outcome. However, creating dice for five players proved to be a more complex puzzle. The team explored various theories, eventually settling on a set of five 120-sided dice, a practical solution proposed by an Australian researcher.
A breakthrough came when Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer joined the project and devised a solution using five 60-sided dice. Unlike previous claims, Meyer’s solution was verified and proven effective. The dice are now available for purchase, designed to ensure fairness in determining the starting player.
Future research aims to explore whether fewer sides could suffice for a five-player set and potentially extend the concept to accommodate six players. Harshbarger acknowledges that unexpected discoveries are possible, as seen with Meyer’s innovative approach to the problem. The ongoing pursuit of solutions to these mathematical challenges exemplifies the allure of such intricate and unconventional inquiries for mathematicians.
