Probability and Statistics by Example: Volume 1, Basic Probability and Statistics

Probability and statistics are as much about intuition and problem solving as they are about theorem proving. Consequently, students can find it very difficult to make a successful transition from lectures to examinations to practice because the problems involved can vary so much in nature. Since the subject is critical in so many applications from insurance to telecommunications to bioinformatics, the authors have collected more than 200 worked examples and examination questions with complete solutions to help students develop a deep understanding of the subject rather than a superficial knowledge of sophisticated theories. With amusing stories and historical asides sprinkled throughout, this enjoyable book will leave students better equipped to solve problems in practice and under exam conditions.

Review of previous edition: '… all the ingredients that contribute to making a good lecture are in the book: well-explained theory, interesting examples, and funny jokes and amusing stories about famous probabilists and statisticians. The authors also give rhythm to the flow of the subjects, making the volume a very pleasant book to read.' Emanuele Taufer, Mathematical Reviews, Review of previous edition: '… authors claim that this book simplifies life for test-taking students by offering them a wealth of exercises along with complete solutions. Highly recommended.' Choice, Review of previous edition: 'Well put together, well written and containing a regular joke to relax the mind, this book is an excellent text for courses in probability and statistics designed for the reasonably mathematically sophisticated.' Charles Ashbacher, Journal of Recreational Mathematics, Review of previous edition: 'The book is well-written, not just for the problems but also for the remarks and historical asides that the authors choose to include … I will certainly keep it on my desk next time I teach a similar course as a good resource for problems, and I would recommend it to any student wanting supplemental material.' Darren Glass, MAA Reviews, 'This book gives both relevant background material and clear solutions for many instructive problems mostly taken from examination papers at Cambridge. It would be a valuable teaching aid to a student who first makes a serious attempt to solve each problem for herself/himself.' David Williams, Professor Emeritus, University of Bath

Yuri Suhov is a Professor of Applied Probability in the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics at the University of Cambridge (Emeritus). He is also affiliated to the University of São Paolo in Brazil and to the Moscow Institute of Information Transmission Problems. Mark Kelbert is a Reader in Statistics in the Department of Mathematics at Swansea University. For many years he has also been associated with the Moscow Institute of Information Transmission Problems and the International Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics (Moscow).