Duelling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers.PAUL J. NAHIN Geared toward math enthusiasts familiar with basic calculus calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value. , this book presents 21 puzzles about probability. Nahin asks questions such as, What are the chances the underdog will win the World Series? How likely is it that you'll be called to jury duty? If two idiots alternately take aim at each other with a six-shot revolver containing one bullet, what is the probability of each one surviving? Then, he incorporates a host of probability principles, including random walk and binomial distributions binomial distribution n. The frequency distribution of the probability of a specified number of successes in an arbitrary number of repeated independent Bernoulli trials. Also called Bernoulli distribution. , into entertaining discussions of how to approach an answer. In each case, he works through the pertinent equations and provides solutions. In some cases, he illustrates how software such as MATLAB (MATrix LABoratory) A programming language for technical computing from The MathWorks, Natick, MA (www.mathworks.com). Used for a wide variety of scientific and engineering calculations, especially for automatic control and signal processing, MATLAB runs on Windows, Mac and can be employed to solve confounding confounding when the effects of two, or more, processes on results cannot be separated, the results are said to be confounded, a cause of bias in disease studies. confounding factor queries. Originally published in hardcover in 2000. Princeton U Pr, 2000, 269 p., illus., paperback, $18.95. |
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