Basic Principles And Applications Of Probability Theory

The book is an introduction to modern probability theory written by one of the famous experts in this area. Readers will learn about the basic concepts of probability and its applications, preparing them for more advanced and specialized works.

The book is an introduction to modern probability theory written by one of the famous experts in this area. Readers will learn about the basic concepts of probability and its applications, preparing them for more advanced and specialized works.

This book provides a clear and straightforward introduction to applications of probability theory with examples given in the biological sciences and engineering. The first chapter contains a summary of basic probability theory. Chapters two to five deal with random variables and their applications. Topics covered include geometric probability, estimation of animal and plant populations, reliability theory and computer simulation. Chapter six contains a lucid account of the convergence of sequences of random variables, with emphasis on the central limit theorem and the weak law of numbers. The next four chapters introduce random processes, including random walks and Markov chains illustrated by examples in population genetics and population growth. This edition also includes two chapters which introduce, in a manifestly readable fashion, the topic of stochastic differential equations and their applications.

The main intended audience for this book is undergraduate students in pure and applied sciences, especially those in engineering. Chapters 2 to 4 cover the probability theory they generally need in their training. Although the treatment of the subject is surely su?cient for non-mathematicians, I intentionally avoided getting too much into detail. For instance, topics such as mixed type random variables and the Dirac delta function are only brie?y mentioned. Courses on probability theory are often considered di?cult. However, after having taught this subject for many years, I have come to the conclusion that one of the biggest problems that the students face when they try to learn probability theory, particularly nowadays, is their de?ciencies in basic di?erential and integral calculus. Integration by parts, for example, is often already forgotten by the students when they take a course on probability. For this reason, I have decided to write a chapter reviewing the basic elements of di?erential calculus. Even though this chapter might not be covered in class, the students can refer to it when needed. In this chapter, an e?ort was made to give the readers a good idea of the use in probability theory of the concepts they should already know. Chapter 2 presents the main results of what is known as elementary probability, including Bayes’ rule and elements of combinatorial analysis.

Probability theory

This is an introduction to the principles underlying probability. It defines terms and details explanations, and emphasizes the importance of mastering a coherent set of rules and methods and developing problem solving skills. Discussions and examples are used to help students translate this highly abstract subject into terms appropriate to their diverse studies and fields of interest. Exercises designed for computational software are also included to provide practice in solving difficult problems with a computer, and step-by-step solutions to all problems appear at the back of the book.

This work thoroughly covers the concepts and main results of probability theory, from its fundamental principles to advanced applications. This edition provides examples early in the text of practical problems such as the safety of a piece of engineering equipment or the inevitability of wrong conclusions in seemingly accurate medical tests for AIDS and cancer.;College or university bookstores may order five or more copies at a special student price which is available upon request from Marcel Dekker, Inc.

A key pedagogical feature of the textbook is the accessible approach to probability concepts through examples with explanations and problems with solutions. The reader is encouraged to simulate in Matlab random experiments and to explore the theoretical aspects of the probabilistic models behind the studied experiments. By this appropriate balance between simulations and rigorous mathematical approach, the reader can experience the excitement of comprehending basic concepts and can develop the intuitive thinking in solving problems. The current textbook does not contain proofs for the stated theorems, but corresponding references are given. Moreover, the given Matlab codes and detailed solutions make the textbook accessible to researchers and undergraduate students, by learning various techniques from probability theory and its applications in other fields. This book is intended not only for students of mathematics but also for students of natural sciences, engineering, computer science and for science researchers, who possess the basic knowledge of calculus for the mathematical concepts of the textbook and elementary programming skills for the Matlab simulations.