Understanding Probability: Chance Rules in Everyday Life [Paperback]

Henk Tijms (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0521701724 | ISBN-13: 978-0521701723 | Edition: 2

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent book for the study of basic probability events... This book is an excellent choice for advanced courses in probability for math majors who have completed the calculus sequence."
Charles Ashbacher, Journal of Recreational Mathematics

Book Description

Using examples from lotteries and casino games, the author of this accessible book demystifies much of probability theory, including betting systems and the central limit theorem. This fully revised second edition has been expanded considerably, with more explanations, examples and exercises providing all the material taught in an introductory probability course.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 452 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (August 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521701724
• ISBN-13: 978-0521701723
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introductory probability book, March 2, 2005

By 

Wayne L. Winston (Bloomington, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Probability: Chance Rules in Everyday Life (Paperback)

Henk Tijms is one of the world's leading experts in applied probability. This book is a wonderful introduction to probability theory. The second half of book a requires basic differntial calculus but beyond that only high school algebra is required. First half of book motivates probabilistic thinking through many fascinating examples and problems. Second half of book fills in the rigor. What sets the book apart is that unlike most books every problem and example are interesting. Another excellent feature is the fact that simulation is used throughout to develop probabilistic inttiution. All in all a wonderful book.

I write textbooks in the field but several examples in the book (such as Poisson approximation to the famous birthday problem) taught me some new tricks!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to probability, June 9, 2005

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Mathemat "Mathmat" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Probability: Chance Rules in Everyday Life (Paperback)

I am a physician who uses probabilty and statistics in research and I am always interested in finding textbooks that are such effective teaching instruments that they are suitable for self-study. Unfortunately work has prevented me from finishing this book for now and so my comments are based on an incomplete reading of the book but my initial impression was positive and I thought it was worth sharing. But it is one of the best books I have found. It is a nice balance between mathematical rigor and expository writing and I very much appreciated historical anecdotes that come in handy when one wonders if one has what it takes to finish the book and master the subject-specifically how Leibniz had difficulty calculating the probability of rolling a certain number with dice. I was particularky impressed because I had a very negative impression of some of the "classics" that will remain unnamed that are undoubtedly super colelctions of information and concepts but rather poor vehicals of instruction. I have to admit that I definitely prefer a more expository style in which the author is really speaking to you. The "high-density" books are not for me. So I very much appreciated professor Tijms expository approach.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reader from Mexico City, March 7, 2005

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Onesimo Hernandez Lerma - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Probability: Chance Rules in Everyday Life (Paperback)

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 have never seen a probability book with such good examples.