Introduction to Probability with Mathematica, Second Edition

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Price: ~~$96.95~~ $87.26
Hardback: 465 pages
Also available in e-Book
Published: September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4200793-8-8
Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC
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By Kevin J. Hastings.

Updated to conform to Mathematica^® 7.0, Introduction to Probability with Mathematica^®, Second Edition continues to show students how to easily create simulations from templates and solve problems using Mathematica. It provides a real understanding of probabilistic modeling and the analysis of data and encourages the application of these ideas to practical problems. The accompanying CD-ROM offers instructors the option of creating class notes, demonstrations, and projects.

New to the Second Edition

Expanded section on Markov chains that includes a study of absorbing chains
New sections on order statistics, transformations of multivariate normal random variables, and Brownian motion
More example data of the normal distribution
More attention on conditional expectation, which has become significant in financial mathematics
Additional problems from Actuarial Exam P
New appendix that gives a basic introduction to Mathematica
New examples, exercises, and data sets, particularly on the bivariate normal distribution
New visualization and animation features from Mathematica 7.0
Updated Mathematica notebooks on the CD-ROM

After covering topics in discrete probability, the text presents a fairly standard treatment of common discrete distributions. It then transitions to continuous probability and continuous distributions, including normal, bivariate normal, gamma, and chi-square distributions. The author goes on to examine the history of probability, the laws of large numbers, and the central limit theorem. The final chapter explores stochastic processes and applications, ideal for students in operations research and finance.

Discrete Probability

The Cast of Characters

Properties of Probability

Simulation

Random Sampling

Conditional Probability

Independence

Discrete Distributions

Discrete Random Variables, Distributions, and Expectations

Bernoulli and Binomial Random Variables

Geometric and Negative Binomial Random Variables

Poisson Distribution

Joint, Marginal, and Conditional Distributions

Reviews

If you own the first edition, you will be very pleased with the second edition. It is more complete, better organized, and even more well-presented. If you don’t own the first edition, and are looking for an effective tool for conveying probabilistic concepts, Hastings’ book should certainly be one you consider.

—Jane L. Harvill, The American Statistician, November 2011

Introduction to Probability with Mathematica adds computational exercises to the traditional undergraduate probability curriculum without cutting out theory. … a good textbook for a class with a strong emphasis on hands-on experience with probability. … One interesting feature of the book is that each set of exercises includes a few problems taken from actuarial exams. No doubt this will comfort students who are taking a probability course in hopes that it will prepare them for an actuarial exam. Another interesting feature is the discussion of the Central Limit Theorem. The book goes into an interesting discussion of the history of the theorem … .

—MAA Reviews, December 2009