Introduction to Probability Models, Ninth Edition (Hardcover)

by Sheldon M. Ross (Author)
Key Phrases: tomorrow with probability, independent exponentials with rate, random telegraph signal process, New York, John Wiley, Second Edition (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“...perfect for actuaries…a fascinating introduction to applications from a variety of disciplines. Any curious student will love this book."
--Jean Lemaire, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School

“The examples, like the exercises are great...”
--Matt Carlton, California Polytechnic State University -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Praise from Reviewers:
"This is a fascinating introduction to applications from a variety of disciplines. Any curious student will love this book."
- Jean LeMaire, University of Pennsylvania
"I think Ross has done an admirable job of covering the breadth of applied probability. Ross
writes fantastic problems which really force the students to think divergently...The examples, like the exercises are great."
- Matt Carlton, Cal Polytechnic Institute
"This book may be a model in the organization of the education process. I would definitely rate
this text to be the best probability models book at its level of difficulty...far more sophisticated and deliberate than its competitors."
- Kris Ostaszewski, University of Illinois

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 9 edition (December 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0125980620
• ISBN-13: 978-0125980623
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,024 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, September 14, 2000

By	Todd Ebert (Long Beach California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Probability Models (Hardcover)

The first four chapters alone (intro, random variables, conditonal probability, markov chains) are worth the price of the book. The author packs each chapter with very interesting examples and problems. The one I found most interesting was his probabilistic analysis of the 2-SAT and SAT problems of computer science. Here he gives an informal math argument as to why 2-SAT is polynomial time decidable and why SAT should be intractable.

On the other hand, I think someone relatively new to probability theory may find his neat problems and examples a bit too much with a first reading. The book is in its seventh edition, and I think Ross has taken advantage of this by providing newer insights and more interesting problems, but in doing so it may overwhelm the novice.

If you are learning probability for the first or second time, I recommend you supplement this book with Roussas "A Course in Mathematical Statistics". Despite its title, the first 9 chapters give a calculus-based intro to probability. And the rest of the book is *excellent* for a calculus-based intro to statistics.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Many examples,few statements of clear theory, December 2, 1999

By	Asmir Arifovic (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Probability Models (Hardcover)

Althought the book contains number of very ineresting examples I would have prefered if Ross stated the underlying theory more clearly. Often, I had hard time finding the theory in the text. On the other hand, for practical purposes, if you can find the example that matches your practical problem this book will have the some form of the solution derived for it.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Take "Introduction To" out of the title, June 12, 1999

By	[e-mail] "jenmatt" (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Probability Models (Hardcover)

This was my first course in stochastics and this book was horrible to start with. I learned all the material from other study guides which used easier examples and were written in english. If you're looking for an introduction to stochastics forget this book, if you've had some previous experience it will probably do quite well.