Probability, Random Variables, and Random Signal Principles [Hardcover]

Peyton Peebles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0073660078 | ISBN-13: 978-0073660073 | Edition: 4

This concise introduction to probability theory carries on the success of previous editions, offering readers a logical, well-organized look at the fundamental of the subject--includes applications that strengthen engineers' grasp of probability concepts. New! Coverage of discrete-time random processes and sequences, and other general topics related to digital signal processing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 4 edition (July 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073660078
• ISBN-13: 978-0073660073
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #797,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars as an undergraduate textbook for EE students, September 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Probability, Random Variables, and Random Signal Principles (Hardcover)

This book is one of the best undergradute textbooks for EE students, especially students having focus on physical-layer communication engineering. The highlight of this book is the enormous amount of well-written problems at the end of each chapter. These problems really help students fully understand abstract definitions and theorems which otherwise will not be easily cracked.

This book, however, has the following drawbacks:
1. The author should have emphasized in the first chapter the importance of real analysis and measure theory in order to motivate the students planning graduate research to study and prepare for the math courses during their undergraduate study.
2. No section for complex Gaussian random variable and vector, which are very important in digital communications.
3. No limit theorems except CLT.
4. No handling of convergence of a random sequence.

Even with above drawbacks, this book is still the classic. I recommend ambitious students to read a little bit advanced books along with this book to better understand the subject.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible book, March 12, 2007

By 

Thomas Black - See all my reviews

This review is from: Probability, Random Variables, and Random Signal Principles (Hardcover)

The book offers no rigor in any sense and the author seems to have simply copied a large number of formulas from a real probability book. Explanations are sparse and incoherent with vague references to "important applications" with no sense of the abstract concept and virtually no insight into any of the information presented; as another reviewer wrote it is quite dry, I can't see Ben Stein narrating it, but I can picture the author sitting at his keyboard haphazardly plunking in text from other 'sources' all the while wondering what it means.

Skip this and get something with more substance, Peebles offers nothing more than you could find on wikipedia, perhaps less.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A bad book to start with.., May 1, 2006

By 

Shanmuganathan R "Shanmuga" (IISc Bangalore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Probability, Random Variables, and Random Signal Principles (Hardcover)

This book though looks simple and pretends to present concepts in a lucid manner, does not match international standards. Very few examples are present with less/no illustrations. I struggled with this book for almost 2 years to understand the concepts as this book was the only popular book in my UG college and was readily available in our library. It has ideally no practical examples which can easily discourage reader. After reading contemporary books from Prof Roy Yates and Prof Leon-Garcia, I could do little favor for this book by giving 1 star.

However, one who is already thorough with concepts can use this book for revision. There is a huge element of risk involved in starting with this book to learn probability concepts.