Product Description

In this fully revised second edition of Understanding Probability, the reader can learn about the world of probability in an informal way. The author demystifies the law of large numbers, betting systems, random walks, the bootstrap, rare events, the central limit theorem, the Bayesian approach and more. This second edition has wider coverage, more explanations and examples and exercises, and a new chapter introducing Markov chains, making it a great choice for a first probability course. But its easy-going style makes it just as valuable if you want to learn about the subject on your own, and high school algebra is really all the mathematical background you need.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57738 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 452 pages

Review
'This book is eminently suitable for students undertaking a first course in probability. It would be particularly useful for service teaching where students are not aiming for a degree classification in mathematics or statistics.' Significance

'… an extremely well-done result of carefully designing an introduction to probability and an excellent choice … [for] … a textbook for a first course in probability for students from a wide area of disciplines.' Internationale Mathematische Nachrichten

'This book gives an introduction to probability theory by using motivating examples to illustrate the concepts.' Monatshefte für Mathematik

'The author clearly wants to stimulate the reader's interest in probability, both as an academic subject and as a tool with which to assess our daily world … The material on the history of the subject, interspersed throughout, is a worthy inclusion. The number of famous applications of probability included is remarkable - the arcsine law for random walks, the drunkard's walk in n dimensions, the Kelly betting system, the 'hot hand theory', betting systems for roulette, the Pollaczek-Khintchine queuing formula, Black-Scholes formula, and Benford's Law, just to name a few. .. I would recommend this text for instructors who may wish to try a fresh and very stimulating approach towards a first course in probability.' Mark F. Schilling, California State University

'The book is written in a narrative yet precise style which makes it enjoyable to read. It is well suited for first courses in probability for students of engineering or computer science. It may also be used as additional material in other courses or for self-study.' Zentralblatt MATH

About the Author
Henk Tijms is Professor of Operations Research at the Vrije University in Amsterdam. The author of several textbooks, including A First Course in Stochastic Models, he is intensively active in the popularization of applied mathematics and probability in Dutch high schools. He has also written numerous papers on applied probability and stochastic optimization for international journals, including Applied Probability and Probability in the Engineering and International Sciences.

Customer Reviews

A very good introductory book
Working through the colorful examples and problems in this book is a great way to learn the basic principles of probability. The second edition also contains wonderful material on the more advanced topic of Markov chains. I have never seen a book with such good examples and problems on the one hand and such good explanations of the basic theory on the other hand. It is an ideal textbook that is just as good as Sheldon Ross' book A First Course to Probability but is much cheaper in price.

Great book
This is the book for understanding and learning probability! I used this lively introduction to probability and I found it a pleasure to study from it. The challenging problems and the way they are tackled using computer simulations before providing analytic solutions, gave me a lot of insights. Also the key concepts and ideas from probability theory are treated in a very clear way. I wish I had seen this book before.

A reader from Mexico City
Highly recommended.
I could not put this book down. Working through the colorful problems in this book is a great way to learn and apply basic probability principles. I've never seen a probability book with such good examples. Great book!