Randomness

From the ancients' first readings of the innards of birds to your neighbor's last bout with the state lottery, humankind has put itself into the hands of chance. Today life itself may be at stake when probability comes into play--in the chance of a false negative in a medical test, in the reliability of DNA findings as legal evidence, or in the likelihood of passing on a deadly congenital disease--yet as few people as ever understand the odds. This book is aimed at the trouble with trying to learn about probability. A story of the misconceptions and difficulties civilization overcame in progressing toward probabilistic thinking, Randomness is also a skillful account of what makes the science of probability so daunting in our own day. To acquire a (correct) intuition of chance is not easy to begin with, and moving from an intuitive sense to a formal notion of probability presents further problems. Author Deborah Bennett traces the path this process takes in an individual trying to come to grips with concepts of uncertainty and fairness, and also charts the parallel path by which societies have developed ideas about chance. Why, from ancient to modern times, have people resorted to chance in making decisions? Is a decision made by random choice "fair"? What role has gambling played in our understanding of chance? Why do some individuals and societies refuse to accept randomness at all? If understanding randomness is so important to probabilistic thinking, why do the experts disagree about what it really is? And why are our intuitions about chance almost always dead wrong? Anyone who has puzzled over a probability conundrum is struck by the paradoxes and counterintuitive results that occur at a relatively simple level. Why this should be, and how it has been the case through the ages, for bumblers and brilliant mathematicians alike, is the entertaining and enlightening lesson of Randomness.

from The Ancients' First Readings Of The Innards Of Birds To Your Neighbor's Last Bout With The State Lottery, Humankind Has Put Itself Into The Hands Of Chance. Today Life Itself May Be At Stake When Probability Comes Into Play—in The Chance Of A False Negative In A Medical Test, In The Reliability Of Dna Findings As Legal Evidence, Or In The Likelihood Of Passing On A Deadly Congenital Disease—yet As Few People As Ever Understand The Odds. This Book Is Aimed At The Trouble With Trying To Learn About Probability. A Story Of The Misconceptions And Difficulties Civilization Overcame In Progressing Toward Probabilistic Thinking, randomness Is Also A Skillful Account Of What Makes The Science Of Probability So Daunting In Our Own Day.

to Acquire A (correct) Intuition Of Chance Is Not Easy To Begin With, And Moving From An Intuitive Sense To A Formal Notion Of Probability Presents Further Problems. Author Deborah Bennett Traces The Path This Process Takes In An Individual Trying To Come To Grips With Concepts Of Uncertainty And Fairness, And Also Charts The Parallel Path By Which Societies Have Developed Ideas About Chance. Why, From Ancient To Modern Times, Have People Resorted To Chance In Making Decisions? Is A Decision Made By Random Choice Fair? What Role Has Gambling Played In Our Understanding Of Chance? Why Do Some Individuals And Societies Refuse To Accept Randomness At All? If Understanding Randomness Is So Important To Probabilistic Thinking, Why Do The Experts Disagree About What It Really Is? And Why Are Our Intuitions About Chance Almost Always Dead Wrong?

anyone Who Has Puzzled Over A Probability Conundrum Is Struck By The Paradoxes And Counterintuitive Results That Occur At A Relatively Simple Level. Why This Should Be, And How It Has Been The Case Through The Ages, For Bumblers And Brilliant Mathematicians Alike, Is The Entertaining And Enlightening Lesson Of randomness.

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this Volume Is Exceptionally Readable. It Takes Away Much Of The Mystery Of Probability While Adding To Our Sense Of Wonder.

From the ancients’ first readings of the innards of birds to your neighbor’s last bout with the state lottery, humankind has put itself into the hands of chance. Today life itself may be at stake when probability comes into play—in the chance of a false negative in a medical test, in the reliability of DNA findings as legal evidence, or in the likelihood of passing on a deadly congenital disease—yet as few people as ever understand the odds. This book is aimed at the trouble with trying to learn about probability. A story of the misconceptions and difficulties civilization overcame in progressing toward probabilistic thinking, Randomness is also a skillful account of what makes the science of probability so daunting in our own day.To acquire a (correct) intuition of chance is not easy to begin with, and moving from an intuitive sense to a formal notion of probability presents further problems. Author Deborah Bennett traces the path this process takes in an individual trying to come to grips with concepts of uncertainty and fairness, and also charts the parallel path by which societies have developed ideas about chance. Why, from ancient to modern times, have people resorted to chance in making decisions? Is a decision made by random choice “fair”? What role has gambling played in our understanding of chance? Why do some individuals and societies refuse to accept randomness at all? If understanding randomness is so important to probabilistic thinking, why do the experts disagree about what it really is? And why are our intuitions about chance almost always dead wrong?Anyone who has puzzled over a probability conundrum is struck by the paradoxes and counterintuitive results that occur at a relatively simple level. Why this should be, and how it has been the case through the ages, for bumblers and brilliant mathematicians alike, is the entertaining and enlightening lesson of Randomness. From the ancients' first readings of the innards of birds to your neighbor's last bout with the state lottery, humankind has put itself into the hands of chance. Today life itself may be at stake when probability comes into play--in the chance of a false negative in a medical test, in the reliability of DNA findings as legal evidence, or in the likelihood of passing on a deadly congenital disease--yet as few people as ever understand the odds. This book is aimed at the trouble with trying to learn about probability. A story of the misconceptions and difficulties civilization overcame in progressing toward probabilistic thinking, Randomness is also a skillful account of what makes the science of probability so daunting in our own day. To acquire a (correct) intuition of chance is not easy to begin with, and moving from an intuitive sense to a formal notion of probability presents further problems. Author Deborah Bennett traces the path this process takes in an individual trying to come to grips with concepts of uncertainty and fairness, and also charts the parallel path by which societies have developed ideas about chance. Why, from ancient to modern times, have people resorted to chance in making decisions? Is a decision made by random choice "fair"? What role has gambling played in our understanding of chance? Why do some individuals and societies refuse to accept randomness at all? If understanding randomness is so important to probabilistic thinking, why do the experts disagree about what it really is? And why are our intuitions about chance almost always dead wrong? Anyone who has puzzled over a probability conundrum is struck by the paradoxes and counterintuitive results that occur at a relatively simple level. Why this should be, and how it has been the case through the ages, for bumblers and brilliant mathematicians alike, is the entertaining and enlightening lesson of Randomness . "This book is aimed at the trouble with trying to learn about probability. A story of the misconceptions and difficulties civilization overcame in progressing toward probabilistic thinking, Randomness is also a skillful account of what makes the science of probability so daunting in our own time." "To acquire a (correct) intuition of chance is not easy to begin with, and moving from an intuitive sense to a formal notion of probability presents further problems. Author Deborah Bennett traces the path this process takes in an individual trying to come to grips with concepts of uncertainty and fairness, and charts the parallel course by which societies have developed ideas about randomness and determinacy."--Jacket Cover......Page 1 RANDOMNESS......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Acknowledgments......Page 6 Contents ......Page 8 1. Chance Encounters ......Page 12 2. Why Resort to Chance? ......Page 22 3. When the Gods Played Dice ......Page 39 4. Figuring the Odds ......Page 57 5. Mind Games for Gamblers ......Page 75 6. Chance or Necessity? ......Page 94 7. Order in Apparent Chaos ......Page 120 8. Wanted: Random Numbers ......Page 143 9. Randomness as Uncertainty ......Page 163 10. Paradoxes in Probability ......Page 185 Notes ......Page 202 Bibliography ......Page 220 Index ......Page 244 Discusses chance and probability, highlighting their applications in civilizations throughout history as well as some popular misconceptions about solving problems involving probability