40 Puzzles and Problems in Probability and Mathematical Statistics (Paperback)

Wolf Schwarz

ISBN 10: 1441925228 / ISBN 13: 9781441925220

Published by Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY, 2010

About this Item

Paperback. As a student I discovered in our library a thin booklet by Frederick Mosteller entitled50 Challenging Problems in Probability. Itreferredtoas- plementary regular textbook by William Feller, An Introduction to Pro- bilityTheoryanditsApplications.SoItookthisonealong,too,andstartedon the ?rst of Mostellers problems on the train riding home. From that evening, I caught on to probability. These two books were not primarily about abstract formalisms but rather about basic modeling ideas and about ways often extremely elegant ones to apply those notions to a surprising variety of empirical phenomena. Essentially, these books taught the reader the skill to think probabilistically and to apply simple probability models to real-world problems. The present book is in this tradition; it is based on the view that those cognitive skills are best acquired by solving challenging, nonstandard pro- bility problems. My own experience, both in learning and in teaching, is that challenging problems often help to develop, and to sharpen, our probabilistic intuition much better than plain-style deductions from abstract concepts. As a student I discovered in our library a thin booklet by Frederick Mosteller entitled50 Challenging Problems in Probability. Essentially, these books taught the reader the skill to think probabilistically and to apply simple probability models to real-world problems. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781441925220

Bibliographic Details

• Title: 40 Puzzles and Problems in Probability and Mathematical Statistics (Paperback)
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1441925228
• ISBN 13: 9781441925220
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The present book is based on the view that cognitive skills are best acquired by solving challenging, non-standard probability problems. Many puzzles and problems presented here are either new within a problem solving context (although as topics in fundamental research they are of course long known) or are variations of classical problems which follow directly from elementary concepts. A small number of particularly instructive problems is taken from previous sources which in this case are generally given. This book contains far more problems of a statistical nature than the competition. It will become a handy resource for professors looking for problems to assign for a course, and will be of interest to undergraduate math students, as well as a more general audience of amateur scientists.

From the Back Cover

"40 Puzzles and Problems in Probability and Mathematical Statistics" is intended to teach the reader to think probabilistically by solving challenging, non-standard probability problems. The motivation for this clearly written collection lies in the belief that challenging problems help to develop, and to sharpen, our probabilistic intuition much better than plain-style deductions from abstract concepts. The selected problems fall into two broad categories. Problems related to probability theory come first, followed by problems related to the application of probability to the field of mathematical statistics. All problems seek to convey a non-standard aspect or an approach which is not immediately obvious.

 

The word puzzles in the title refers to questions in which some qualitative, non-technical insight is most important. Ideally, puzzles can teach a productive new way of framing or representing a given situation. Although the border between the two is not always clearly defined, problems tend to require a more systematic application of formal tools, and to stress more technical aspects. Thus, a major aim of the present collection is to bridge the gap between introductory texts and rigorous state-of-the-art books.

 

Anyone with a basic knowledge of probability, calculus and statistics will benefit from this book; however, many of the problems collected require little more than elementary probability and straight logical reasoning. To assist anyone using this book for self-study, the author has included very detailed step-for-step solutions of all problems and also short hints which point the reader in the appropriate direction.