Lady Luck: The Theory of Probability (Science Study Series 30)

Everyday questions such as "Should I take my umbrella?" involve probability, a topic important in daily life and in science. This witty, nontechnical introduction to the subject elucidates such concepts as permutations, independent events, mathematical expectation, the law of averages and more. No advanced math required. 49 drawings. This Book Is The Best Nontechnical Introduction To Probability Ever Written. Its Author, The Late Dr. Warren Weaver, Was A Professor Of Mathematics, Active In The Rockefeller And Sloan Foundations, An Authority On Communications And Probability, And Distinguished For His Work A Bridging The Gap Between Science And The Average Citizen. In Accessible Language And Drawing Upon The Widely Diverse Writings Of Thinkers Like Kurt Gödel, Susanne K. Langer And Nicholas Bernoulli, Dr. Weaver Explains Such Concepts As Permutations, Independent Events, Mathematical Expectation, The Law Of Averages, Chebychev's Theorem, The Law Of Large Numbers, And Probability Distributions. He Uses A Probabilistic Viewpoint To Illuminate Such Matters As Rare Events And Coincidences, And Also Devotes Space To The Relations Of Probability And Statistics, Gambling, And Modern Scientific Research. -- From Back Cover. Thoughts About Thinking -- The Birth Of Lady Luck -- The Concept Of Mathematical Probability -- The Counting Of Cases -- Some Basic Probability Rules -- Some Problems -- Mathematical Expectation -- The Law Of Averages -- Variability And Chebychev's Theorem -- Binomial Experiments -- The Law Of Large Numbers -- Distribution Functions And Probabilities -- Rare Events, Coincidences, And Surprising Occurrences -- Probability And Statistics -- Probability And Gambling -- Lady Luck Becomes A Lady. Warren Weaver. Reprint. Originally Published: Garden City, N.y. : Anchor Books, 1963. (science Study Series) Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Should I take my umbrella?" "Should I buy insurance?" "Which horse should I bet on?" Every day in business, in love affairs, in forecasting the weather or the stock market questions arise which cannot be answered by a simple "yes" or "no." Many of these questions involve probability. Probabilistic thinking is as crucially important in ordinary affairs as it is in the most abstruse realms of science. This book is the best nontechnical introduction to probability ever written. Its author, the late Dr. Warren Weaver, was a professor of mathematics, active in the Rockefeller and Sloan foundations , an authority on communications and probability, and distinguished for his work at bridging the gap between science and the average citizen. In accessible language and drawing upon the widely diverse writings of thinkers like Kurt Godel, Susanne K. Langer, and Nicholas Bernoulli, Dr. Weaver explains such concepts as permutations, independent events, mathematical expectation, the law of averages, Chebychev's theorem, the law of large numbers, and probability distributions. He uses a probabilistic viewpoint to illuminate such matters as rare events and coincidences, and also devotes space to the relations of probability and statistics, gambling, and modern scientific research. Dr. Weaver writes with wit, charm and exceptional clarity. His mathematics is elementary, grasp of the subject profound, and examples fascinating. They are complemented by 49 delightful drawings by Peg Hosford. 13 tables. 49 drawings. Foreword. Index. "In accessible language and drawing upon the widely diverse writings of thinkers like Kurt Gödel, Susanne K. Langer and Nicholas Bernoulli, Dr. Weaver explains such concepts as permutations, independent events, mathematical expectation, the law of averages, Chebychev's theorem, the law of large numbers, and probability distributions. He uses a probabilistic viewpoint to illuminate such matters as rare events and coincidences, and also devotes space to the relations of probability and statistics, gambling, and modern scientific research"--Page 4 of cover This witty, nontechnical introduction to probability elucidates such concepts as permutations, independent events, mathematical expectation, the law of averages and more. No advanced math required. 49 drawings