Product Description
Specially designed for nonmathematics majors, this study guide thoroughlyreviews the math needed to understand statistics. And it includes--andsolves step by step--scores of the kinds of problems that come up in suchfields as anthropology, biology, business, earth sciences, government, medicine, psychology, and sociology. A perfect supplement to the leading textbooks, students willalso find this book ideal for independent study. Supplementary questionsaid self testing. ... Read more

Product Description

WHAT ARE THE ODDS YOU'LL WIN THE LOTTERY?

How long will your kids wait in line at Disney World?

Who decides that “standardized tests” are fair?

Why do highway engineers build slow-moving ramps?

What does it mean, statistically, to be an “Average Joe”?

NUMBERS RULE YOUR WORLD
In the popular tradition of eye-opening bestsellers like Freakonomics, The Tipping Point, and Super Crunchers, this fascinating book from renowned statistician and blogger Kaiser Fung takes you inside the hidden world of facts and figures that affect you every day, in every way.

These are the statistics that rule your life, your job, your commute, your vacation, your food, your health, your money, and your success. This is how engineers calculate your quality of living, how corporations determine your needs, and how politicians estimate your opinions. These are the numbers you never think about-even though they play a crucial role in every single aspect of your life.

What you learn may surprise you, amuse you, or even enrage you. But there's one thing you won't be able to deny: Numbers Rule Your World…

"An easy read with a big benefit."
--Fareed Zakaria, CNN

"For those who have anxiety about how organization data-mining is impacting their world,Kaiser Fung pulls back the curtain to reveal the good and the bad of predictive analytics."
--Ian Ayres,Yale professor and author of Super Crunchers:Why Thinking By Numbers is the New Way to Be Smart

"A book that engages us with stories that a journalist would write, the compelling stories behind the stories as illuminated by the numbers, and the dynamics that the numbers reveal."
--John Sall, Executive Vice President, SAS Institute

"Little did I suspect, when I picked up Kaiser Fung's book, that I would become so entranced by it - an illuminating and accessible exploration of the power of statistical analysis for those of us who have no prior training in a field that he explores so ably."
--Peter Clarke, author of Keynes: The Rise, Fall, and Return of the 20th Century's Most Influential Economist
... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

More about contemporary events than statistics
This book is fairly well written and it presents stories about current events in which statistics play a major role. I purchased it, however, hoping to learn some statistics. I have read other math books about different concepts ranging from calculus to math history that were both entertaining and informative from a mathematical point of view (Derbyshire, Dunham, etc.). I have found this book to very lacking in this regard.

Statistics is my weakest area in math since I have never taken a course on the subject. What a student will learn in a first year statistics course, however, dwarfs what you will learn from this book. For instance, in the chapter regarding correlation versus causation, the author uses stories to highlight their differences, and explores how they are often mixed up. Having already known about this distinction, however, I picked up nothing mathematically from the chapter. There was no real insight into how these statistics are created.

If you know absolutely nothing about statistics, you can pick up a little from this book. For instance, in the same chapter mentioned above, the author examines how statisticians determined spinach to be the cause of the e coli outbreak from a couple of years back. It's very simple. 20% of people reported eating spinach on a regular basis, but 80% of people reported eating spinach who had been diagnosed with e coli. The chances of that happening are very slim, statistically speaking. The author does not present in any detail how this percentage is generated.

The book does shine in its reporting about current events, and that is its strongest point. It's also particularly striking how few numbers it actually uses. Apparently, this is a part of its success since so few people are actually numerate. If you are a little on the numerate side, and want to learn about how statistics are actually computed, look elsewhere. If you want to see how statistics relates to current events in general, consider this book.

(3.5 stars. Amazon really needs to update their star system, speaking of numeracy; it seems that we should be able to highlight how much of the final star that we choose.)

Statistics, Explained for the Rest of Us
If you ever wondered how numbers can affect your everyday life then "Numbers Rule Your World" is a book not to be missed. A professional statistician, Kaiser Fung has managed to write a wonderfully readable account revealing how many aspects of our daily activities--whether going to Disneyland, flying on an airline, or applying for a bank loan--are influenced by statistics. A book you won't put down once you've started. Educational and thoroughly enjoyable!

If numbers rule the world, this book helps you understand the weaknesses in those rules
I have always been frustrated by books on statistics that appear to be written for people who already know statistics.This is a book that breaks that mold.

Numbers rule your world is a solid book for non-statisticians to understand the principles and more importantly how statistics can bias what you read and how information is presented in making decisions.The author, Kaiser Fung, does a fine job creating a book that is accessible, interesting and far reaching.He does this by telling a series of stories that revolve around a contentious issue such as using stoplights on freeway on ramps, the efficacy of testing, etc. to illustrate key concepts in statistics.

The author talks about major challenges and the weakness in some statistical applications.This is not a boring book about standard deviation or sampling errors, rather Fung tells the story behind the numbers, discussion motivation, history, approach and how numbers play a role.The writing at times is a little dry, but the topics are interesting.One of the strengths of this book is the fact that many of the case examples are about things that have not been prevalent in the popular media, so you get important ideas illustrated by fresh stories.

There are many ways to talk about how people use and abuse numbers and statistics.Most concentrate on technical aspects and do not take the time to get behind the stories.Fung does and this makes for an enjoyable and interesting book, even for people who have forgotten everything about stats.

With Depth, And Figures To Support
It is hard not to make the comparison between "Numbers Rule Your World" and "Freakonomics".Even the book has made a reference once.Ten real life case studies are used, paired up in five chapters, to illustrate how different aspects of statistics affect our lives.Blogger statistician Kaiser Fung has made the topic surprisingly accessible, narrated in an engaging manner.Each chapter, the author picks two contrasting statistically related topics, juxtaposes them by taking turn to have the story told, and arrives at a conclusion.The narration is honest, impartially inquired from different angles.One of the author's objectives - besides convincing us that like it or not, numbers play a major role in our world today - I believe, is to expand our mind and horizon when interpreting certain situations as numbers are presented.And to appreciate what goes on behind the scene in your everyday life.

To impart the various aspects of statistical thinking upon his readers, the author uses the case studies of highway engineers versus Disney `Imagineers', epidemiologists versus credit modelers, insurers versus test developer (education), anti-doping agencies (sport) versus polygraph (lie detector), and the chances of jet crashes versus jackpots.Each case study - unlike Freakonomics - is backed up sufficiently by figures and facts.At times, I have to slow down my reading and think through the numbers, which I do greatly appreciate.

In practical term, how would reading "Numbers Rule Your World" help your work and life?For one, when you take in the news around you, you may wish to see things in a different perspective.Should you take in the reported figures on the papers as they are?Why are things or processes made that way?Some see an imminent risk, others do not.Should you follow the crowd?At the end of the book, the author has made a bold statement that if you know how to use numbers in making everyday decisions, you rule the world.While I am unsure if most of us has the ability and even access to a reliable data-set in using numbers in making decisions, this book does change the way how I see this world operates when it comes down to numbers.

Terrific book on how numbers and statistics affect our lives
Kaiser Fung has written a clear and insightful book to help us understand and make sense out of the perplexing world of numbers and statistics and the impact of their use or misuse on business, ethics, business, politics, education, safety, quality of life, organizations and society.

In a highly narrative style devoid of technical jargon, it presents clear examples how numbers; their understanding, use and interpretation play a major role in many aspects of our daily lives:

* SAT scores, validity, reliability, fairness and test bias concerns.
* Credit scores, what they measure, their role and impact in our access to credit.
* Enjoying the family vacation at Disneyland, reducing wait times at amusement park rides.
* Avoiding traffic congestion.
* Are our airlines indeed safer than those in third world countries?
* Improving our health and managing disease outbreaks
* Catching cheaters in business, professional sports and the lottery

The major contribution of this book is how well and clearly the author explains the benefits and trade-offs of the application of statistical techniques in solving problems, while helping the reader have an appreciation of the power and limitations of many of these methods.

After reading this book and its many real life stories, the reader is unlikely to look at numbers the same way. The observations and conclusions the author provides at the end of each story or example are lessons in reasoning and analysis that will last a life time. The book is indeed a joy to read and I highly recommend it.

... Read more

Product Description
Because probability and statistics are as much about intuition and problem solving, as they are about theorem proving, students can find it very difficult to make a successful transition from lectures to examinations and practice. Since the subject is critical in many modern applications, Yuri Suhov and Michael Kelbert have rectified deficiencies in traditional lecture-based methods, by combining a wealth of exercises for which they have supplied complete solutions. These solutions are adapted to needs and skills of students and include basic mathematical facts as needed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent text for courses in probability and statistics designed for the reasonably mathematically sophisticated.
The inclusion of the word "Basic" in the title is misleading; it is basic only if you have a thorough grounding in differential and integral calculus and combinatorics. With this background, you will be able to understand the two main sections on "Basic Probability" and "Basic Statistics."
The coverage is fairly typical of textbooks in these areas and at this level; the section on basic probability has two subsections, the first dealing with discrete outcomes and the other with continuous outcomes. Students that have taken a service course in basic statistics will recognize the words in the section headers. With few exceptions, the same description holds for the second section.
The style of presentation is that of problem-solution and most of the problems are worded with a target a specific situation that arises in the world of the practicing statistician. The final section is a list of the problems that appeared on the Cambridge University Mathematical Tripos examinations in IB Statistics from the years 1992-1999. Solutions to all of the problems are included.
There is also a lighthearted note to the book, a large number of jokes/comments related to the subject matter are included and most are quite funny. Some examples are:

*) Statisticians will probably do it
*) Statisticians do it with significance
*) Sex, lies and exponential families
*) Did you hear about the statistician who was put in jail? He now has zero degrees of freedom.

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.
... Read more

Product Description
When it comes to pinpointing the stuff you really need to know, nobody does it better than CliffsNotes. This fast, effective tutorial helps you master core statistical concepts -- from numerical measures, probability, and sampling to principles of testing, univariate inferential tests, and bivariate relationships -- and get the best possible grade.

At CliffsNotes, we're dedicated to helping you do your best, no matter how challenging the subject. Our authors are veteran teachers and talented writers who know how to cut to the chase -- and zero in on the essential information you need to succeed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Nice summary of statistics before taking on a course in the subject.
This book provides a nice summary of statistics, prior to engaging in actual coursework. After reading it and completing all of the practice problems, it serves as a handy reference to supplement your textbook and homework problems. Personally, I've re-read it several times, since the knowledge isn't retained overnight. Whenever I'm rusty on a particular topic, I'll re-read that chapter. While finishing the guide is a good place to begin a study of statistics, you need to continue on to other, more comprehensive sources next. After completing this book, I next read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics, 2nd Edition, which took my understanding to the next level. Now my college textbook makes so much more sense to me, and is easier to digest. This CliffsQuickReview of Statistics is limited in scope, especially with more advanced topics. It does touch a bit on correlation, linear regression, and chi-square testing. However, it doesn't get into topics such as goodness of fit, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the F distribution.

Great seller, thank you!
I received the book in perfect condition and extremely promptly.An excellent transaction!Thank you!

Helps With College
I purchased this book as a refresher for a course I have to take towards my MBA degree.It is very easy to use and the concepts are explained in a way that makes it easy to understand.

Good quick review
Going back to school as an adult is sometimes a challenge. This one, just alike all the cliff note series, is great for a quick cold review of a subject that was studied quite a while ago.

Sadistics
This is a pretty good book to provide you with the basics of statistics. Overall, I hate this class. It's my least favorite I've ever taken in college. I needed this book in order to pass it. ... Read more

Product Description
A unique probability guide for computer science

While many computer science curricula include only an introductory course on general probability, there is a recognized need for further study of this mathematical discipline within the specific context of computer science. Probability and Statistics for Computer Science develops introductory topics in probability with this particular emphasis, providing computer science students with an invaluable resource in their continued studies and professional research.

James Johnson's text begins with the basic definitions of probability distributions and random variables and then elaborates their properties and applications. Probability and Statistics for Computer Science treats the most common discrete and continuous distributions, showing how they find use in decision and estimation problems, and constructs computer algorithms for generating observations from the various distributions. This one-of-a-kind resource also:

• Includes a thorough and rigorous development of all the necessary supporting mathematics

• Provides an opportunity to reconnect applications with the theoretical concepts of distributions introduced in prerequisite courses

• Gathers supporting topics in an appendix: set theory, limit processes, real number structure, Riemann-Stieltjes integrals, matrix transformation, and determinants

• Uses computer science examples such as client-server performance evaluation and image processing

The author also addresses a variety of supporting topics, such as estimation arguments with limits, properties of power series, and Markov processes. Johnson's text proves an ideal resource for computer science students and practitioners interested in a probability study specific to their field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent................
Undoubtedly, it is an excellent and remarkable well organized book. Every chapter contains all needed definitions and formulas, deep discussions of their meanings, proofs, and examples. I strongly recommend this book for every one who want to understand probability and statistics in depth.

Excellent
This text is not just for computer science majors; the applications are simply computer science applications.Instead of placing balls in urns and using dice to present basic examples, it uses very basic topics from computer science to exemplify the theory in such a way that any mathematically inclined reader could fully understand.All the mathematics are explained clearly and with full precision in the appendices and in supplementary modules, which is novel in my opinion.This book is truly rigorous at an introductory level, and completely bridges the gap between intuitive introductory texts and more rigorous graduate texts.However, even the intuition is there in this book; it really has everything.Bravo to this author for writing a truly fine book that is really needed in this area.If you really want to learn probability theory, then buy this book.The writing is of unusually high quality, and the technical presentation is very good and fresh in terms of what's on the market.You will understand the concepts, the theory, and how to prove everything from scratch by reading this book.Johson walks you through everything step by step in precise, clear detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers all areas of probability found in high-school-levelstudy.Topics include the basic concepts of probability, counting,discrete distributions, binomial and multinomial distributions,continuous distributions, conditional probability, expectation, jointdistributions, functions of random variables, and sampling theory. ... Read more

Product Description
This accessible new edition explores the major topics in Monte Carlo simulation

Simulation and the Monte Carlo Method, Second Edition reflects the latest developments in the field and presents a fully updated and comprehensive account of the major topics that have emerged in Monte Carlo simulation since the publication of the classic First Edition over twenty-five years ago. While maintaining its accessible and intuitive approach, this revised edition features a wealth of up-to-date information that facilitates a deeper understanding of problem solving across a wide array of subject areas, such as engineering, statistics, computer science, mathematics, and the physical and life sciences.

The book begins with a modernized introduction that addresses the basic concepts of probability, Markov processes, and convex optimization. Subsequent chapters discuss the dramatic changes that have occurred in the field of the Monte Carlo method, with coverage of many modern topics including:

Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Variance reduction techniques such as the transform likelihood ratio method and the screening method

The score function method for sensitivity analysis

The stochastic approximation method and the stochastic counter-part method for Monte Carlo optimization

The cross-entropy method to rare events estimation and combinatorial optimization

Application of Monte Carlo techniques for counting problems, with an emphasis on the parametric minimum cross-entropy method

An extensive range of exercises is provided at the end of each chapter, with more difficult sections and exercises marked accordingly for advanced readers. A generous sampling of applied examples is positioned throughout the book, emphasizing various areas of application, and a detailed appendix presents an introduction to exponential families, a discussion of the computational complexity of stochastic programming problems, and sample MATLAB® programs.

Requiring only a basic, introductory knowledge of probability and statistics, Simulation and the Monte Carlo Method, Second Edition is an excellent text for upper-undergraduate and beginning graduate courses in simulation and Monte Carlo techniques. The book also serves as a valuable reference for professionals who would like to achieve a more formal understanding of the Monte Carlo method. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Computer Simulation in the Next Decade
Difficult computational problems often require solutions which adapt to the problem being solved. Such sequential methods are the focus of Simulation and the Monte Carlo Method, providingan algorithmic approach to hard counting and optimization problems,the simulation of rare-event probabilities throughminimum cross-entropy, sensitivity analysis, and Markov Chain Monte Carlo.
This book, by two leading experts in the field, travels well-beyond the usual introduction to stochastic simulationand variance reduction to the heart of the adaptive tools required bythe complex simulation and optimization problems of the next decade.I recommend the book for researchers and practitioners alike, interested in the extraordinarypower and potential of modern Monte Carlo Methodsfor solving problems in modeling, statistics and optimization.

excellent
This is an excellent textbook for a course on stochastic simulation
for senior and master students in science. It gives a comprehensive
treatment of all important aspects of dynamic discrete event
simulations with examples and applications in queueing and reliability
models. And each chapter concludes with many problems. In this respect
it is self-contained as it has a chapter on (basic principles of)
probability as well. Just a minor criticism is that the book handles
traditional simulation topics such as building simulation models
and verification/validation rather sketchy (in chapter 3). However,
there are many other topics that you quite often do not see in books on
simulation, like MCMC, optimization, rare-event simulation,
cross-entropy algorithms for combinatorial optimization. The authors
treat the mathematical background and details before giving the
simulation algorithms, which makes the book easy to use as a reference
and suitable for instruction and case studies.

Specifically, I enjoyed reading the last chapter on counting problems
and how to solve them (approximately) by Monte Carlo simulation. There
seems to be many open problems in that area and this chapter is a good
starting point for initiating interesting research.

Enthusiastic reader
This book is supposed to be a revision of the classical book by Rubinstein 1981.As is pointed out in the Preface: "Dramatic changes have taken place in the entire field of Monte Carlo simulation [since 1981]". This edition includes a considerable amount of new, and important, material for which the authors were among principal developers.This alone makes this book a valuable addition to the recent literature on theory and applications of Monte Carlo methods.The book is written in a clear style and is a pleasure to read.

Up to date
This book is a revision of the classic first edition and is authoritative and up to date, including most of the interesting new advances in Monte Carlo methods including modern techniques like perfect sampling and Hit-and-Run algorithms.

Boring!!!
This book is regarded as a classic, but the writing style is as soporific as can be. Some scientists should read Gamow or Feynman to learn that one can write a piece of work that's both authoritative and entertaining. ... Read more

Product Description

Berenson shows students how statistics is use in each functional area of business. This edition features statistics in real-business scenarios, web cases, data analysis and interpretation of software results, case studies and team projects, as well as visual explorations of statistical concepts. This book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in statistics. 

Customer Reviews (10)

Business Statistics
Product arrived in a timely manner.Was not in condition described, definitely "used" but it did contain the CD/DVD needed. Overall happy with purchase

False description
The description didn't specify what edition.Thought this was the 11th edition by the date, but when it showed up - 9th edition.Will not use this site for textbooks again.MUST SPECIFY EDITION!

Decent
Overall I think it's a pretty decent textbook content wise.It could be organized a bit better.One shouldn't have to turn back 5 pages to review referenced illustrations and tables.Also the Excel appendicies steps should be revisited.I had to use YouTube for thorough step by step instructions.This was an overall issue with my classmates as well and I pointed them to the Youtube site and they found the instructions there much easier to follow for the assigned tasks.

[...]

Good value!
I paid about 25% less than the college bookstore.The book is in excellent condition and it arrived in about 10 days.

very good
my book is very good ,just like a new book,and inside is very clean,and the front cover is very good,and I used it one month ago,so if you buy this book,you will very happy. ... Read more

Product Description
WILEY-INTERSCIENCE PAPERBACK SERIES

The Wiley-Interscience Paperback Series consists of selected books that have been made more accessible to consumers in an effort to increase global appeal and general circulation. With these new unabridged softcover volumes, Wiley hopes to extend the lives of these works by making them available to future generations of statisticians, mathematicians, and scientists.

From the Reviews of History of Probability and Statistics and Their Applications before 1750

"This is a marvelous book . . . Anyone with the slightest interest in the history of statistics, or in understanding how modern ideas have developed, will find this an invaluable resource."
–Short Book Reviews of ISI ... Read more

Product Description
Need to know how to build and test models based on data? Intermediate Statistics For Dummies gives you the knowledge to estimate, investigate, correlate, and congregate certain variables based on the information at hand. The techniques you’ll learn in this book are the same techniques used by professionals in medical and scientific fields.

Picking up right where Statistics For Dummies left off, this straightforward, easy-to-follow book guides you beyond Central Limit Theorem and hypothesis tests and immerses you in flavors of regression, ANOVA, and nonparametric procedures. Unlike regular statistics books, this guide provides full explanations of intermediate statistical ideas; computer input dissection; an extensive number of examples, tips, strategies, and warnings; and clear, concise step-by-step procedures—all in a language you can understand. You’ll soon discover how to:

• Analyze data and base models off of your data
• Make predictions using regression
• Compare many means with ANOVA
• Test models using Chi-square
• Dealing with abnormal data

In addition, this book includes a list of wrong statistical conclusions and common questions that professors ask using computer output. This book also adopts a nonlinear approach, making it possible to skip to the information you need without having to read previous chapters. With Intermediate Statistics For Dummies, you’ll have all the tools you need to make important decisions in all types of professional areas—from biology and engineering to business and politics! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

decent over view
Goes over the basics fairly well but, for someone in intermediate to advanced statistics it's a little basic. The examples were helpful but, if you really need advanced info keep looking.

Good for basic statistics
I bought this as a supplemental book to my text book.It had some of the topics covered but not all that I needed.Very clear and easy to understand, but it was missing some key topics.

Buy the latest version
I bought this thinking that it would help me with my Statistics class.I also bought Statistics II for Dummies.It turns out that this book is just an earlier version of the Statistics II for Dummies book.

statistics made easy
A light- reading book, with concise chapters in various topics of statistics. Totally worth the choice.

Engaging, but too focused on MiniTab
I took an intro stats course last spring, and actually ended up enjoying myself!After the course was over, I found myself wanting more... both a separate perspective from the book used in the course I took (Bluman's A Brief Introduction to Elementary Statistics, 4th Ed.), and something that went at least a little further.I purchased this book figuring if I was still interested after reading it, I'd start looking for more traditional text books.To that end, I'm not too terribly disappointed that there isn't much in the way of formulae; I didn't really expect there to be in a Dummies book.Even so, the author's descriptions and examples do a good job of illuminating the topics discussed... but the biggest drawback to the book is the pervasive use of Minitab.I got a (very) brief taste of that software package when I took that stats course... nothing wrong with it other than I think providing examples for a Dummies book using software that costs $$$$ for a single user license is a bit absurd.Most of the alternatives (SAS, SPSS, Stata) aren't much better in that regard, so short of doing it in Excel (which would require massive add-ons at a minimum) or R (free, but I'm not sure people looking to get a quick refresher on which test to use for what and when are going to want to wrestle with a command-line style interface).I wish I had a better solution to go with my criticism, but it doesn't change the way I feel. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive, classroom-tested introduction to modern computational statistics

This comprehensive introduction enables readers to develop a multifaceted and thorough knowledge of modern statistical computing and computational statistics. Backed by many years of classroom experience, the authors help readers gain a practical understanding of how and why modern statistical methods work, enabling readers to apply these methods effectively. Detailed examples are drawn from diverse fields such as bioinformatics, ecology, medicine, computer vision, and stochastic finance.

The text emphasizes areas that are central to understanding the evolving field of computational statistics including areas where routine application of software often fails to solve complex problems. Topics covered include ordinary and combinatorial optimization, algorithms for missing data, numerical and Monte Carlo integration, simulation, introductory and advanced Markov chain Monte Carlo, bootstrapping, density estimation, and smoothing.

Knowledge of computer languages is not required, making examples and algorithms easier for readers to follow. Everything needed to quickly learn and apply the material is provided and is presented in a fluid, jargon-free style with fascinating real-world examples and problem sets that have been tested in the classroom for more than a decade.

Computational Statistics is recommended for graduate-level courses in statistics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, and other quantitative sciences. Advanced undergraduate students can also use this text to learn the basics and for deeper study as they progress. Chapters are written to stand independently, allowing instructors to build their own courses by selecting topics. Statisticians and quantitative empirical scientists will refer to this desktop reference often. By providing readers with a thorough understanding of contemporary statistical techniques, the book gives readers a solid foundation for contributing their own ideas and finding new applications for this dynamic field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Computational Statistics (Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics)
The book was in great condition as for the book itself I do not feel that is very informative. not very detailed you need a strong background in the area to be able to understand the book.

but the seller was reliable in sending the book it took about the entire time to get here so if you need it quick you may want to go with someone else. but if you can wait a few days great place to purchase the book.

Denser then a Brick
I am sure as purely reference material this book is great. However attempting to learn the material for the first time using this book is as useful as staring at a brick for hours on end. Instead of stepping through the material slowly with lots of examples the book focuses on the theoretical approach and leaves lots of derivations of formulas out, under the assumption they are already well known to the reader. Thus more time is spent online and in other textbooks figuring out what the author just did or what he means certain symbols or terms then is spent reading the actual book. Again if you were a statistics graduate student having majored in statistics as an undergraduate this book would be perfect, probably. If however you are a math major and have only taken basic statistics the book is pretty arcane.

Great intor to Comp. Stat.
One of the best books I have had for Computational Statistics. Has almost all topics required for statistical computing. Includes a solid theoretical background at the introductory graduate level, so anyone not possessing this background should beware - since they can find the material a little overwhelming. But if you are comfortable, say, at the level of Casella/Berger or Hogg/Craig, you will be more than thrilled at this volume.

Incomprehensible
I have an undergrad in computers and math and am half way through with my MS in Statistics. I have never had a book that I considered this bad. The explanations are bad, the examples are bad, and the problems are bad. There is no use to owning this book, short of using it to kill bugs. Even then you would probably want a larger book, in order to have a better chance of getting the quick ones. ... Read more

Product Description
This book contains a systematic treatment of probability from the ground up, starting with intuitive ideas and gradually developing more sophisticated subjects, such as random walks, martingales, Markov chains, ergodic theory, weak convergence of probability measures, stationary stochastic processes, and the Kalman-Bucy filter. Many examples are discussed in detail, and there are a large number of exercises. The book is accessible to advanced undergraduates and can be used as a text for self-study.

This new edition contains substantial revision and updated references. The reader will find a deeper study of topics such as the distance between probability measures, metrization of weak convergence, and contiguity of probability measures. Proofs for a number of some important results which were merely stated in the first edition have been added. The author has included new material on the probability of large deviations, on the central limit theorem for sums of dependent random variables, and on a discrete version of Ito's formula. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A True Gem
Both rigorous and tutorial.He starts with elementary material, but develops thatmaterial
in conjunction with simple cases of the advanced tools needed later. Perhaps the best
combination of precise thinking plus intuition in probability texts since Feller.

The book is written in the Kolmogorov's style.
The book is written in the Kolmogorov's well balanced style what is not surprising - A.Shiryaev was his pupil.

However, the text might benefit a lot would Springer apply more editorial work and hire a translator specializing in mathematics - too many stylistic and terminology bugs diminishing the book's obvious merits.

One could hardly name another book in probability of the same caliber.

A brief review
One of the more complete and clear general review about probability theory (hey, it's a graduate!)

Be Careful...I'm Captain Obvious
"Probability" is book number 95 in the GTM series. If you really read this book carefully, you will probably learn something (I think that Shiryayev proves this somewhere in the second chapter). This is probably one of the better books in the GTM series. You can purchase this text for a moderate price. You could, however, take advantage of the probable distribution of this text throughout your university libraries. I'm not saying that it's going to be there...I'm just saying that there's a chance.

A great probability book for both undergraduate and graduate learners
I write this to pay my highest respects for this guru mathematician's work. This is truly a great book, not only for graduate students but also undergraduate and researchers. The book covers 8 chapters, starting with classic approach, so that one can see the evolution of the theory of probability, and one could avoid the risk of being lost in this forest.

It has a particularly useful Chapter 2, which provides the readers with necessary mathematical foundation for them to go on. Of course, the theory itself is challenging and we will/should never expect an easy-to-read mathematics book. The transformation from classical approach to the modern one is exhibited clearly by this great Russian mathematician. You will find almost everything in here, even some critical part that touches on stochastic differential equations, that are very useful for applied fields of sciences such as mathematical finance.

Index of keywords is also very useful and in details. We should also notice that the book is not too thick compared to other multi-volume textbooks. This is a real advantage if you have to carry it along while working or when reading for leisure.

However, be careful with some examples and solutions. I found at least one problem in which Prof. Shiryaev provided wrong solution, e.g. problem on girl vs boy child on page 25 of 2nd Edition. The final result is correct, but the evolution shows a wrong method.

Despite this minor thing, a matter of Buyer Beware, I find it a really great book that has accompanied me for over 7 years now. It is worth every penny. Thus do not waste your money on others before trying this. You will agree with me at the end. The book is a piece of art! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Horrible Solution Manual
This solution manual only has some of the 100's of problems in the text book.The description of the solution manual does not mention that this book only has some solutions to the problems out of the book. Buyer beware !!!

It is not a good option
I found solution free from one of my friend and i was really annoyed becoz of the fact that there are solution to less than one third of the problem in this solution manual. I thought it would be having complete solutions but one of out five question problem have been attempted. I have the one which are complete and no single problem is missing

I dont recommend it to anyone ... Read more

Product Description
Suited for a first course in applied probability and statistics for engineering or science majors, this is a superior textbook. Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, Second Edition, includes expanded coverage of quality control, and offers unique software that automates the computations required for exercises, as well as illustrating the main concepts of probability. The author emphasizes the manner in which probability yields insight into statistical problems; ultimately resulting in an intuitive understanding of the statistical procedures most often used by practicing engineers and scientists. Real data sets are incorporated in a wide variety of exercises and examples throughout the book, and this emphasis on data motivates the probability coverage.

* Very clear presentation of concepts
* Clear presentation of probability
* Contains many data sets
* Presents mathematics that is both precise and easily understood
* Includes an introductory chapter on descriptive statistics
* Includes a computer disk that can be used to determine p-values and to illustrate concepts such as the central limit theorem
New to the Second Edition:
* Real-data examples and exercises throughout the text
* Expanded coverage of Quality Control material
* Unique software to automate the computations required for the exercises ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

What a horrendous textbook!
A textbook without any answers. Formulas given without any derivations. And, at least in the 3rd edition, errors that made it past the proofreaders that shouldn't have been missed!

Example 2.3e, p22, a simple calculation to find the mean:
x(bar) = (9+16+15+20+30+42)/40 = 3.05
What did they use to calculate this? An abacus?

Figure 2.6 on p 16 is labelled "A cumulative frequency plot", when in the 2nd paragraph below it is correctly stated "A cumulative relative frequency plot of Table 2.3 is given in Figure 2.6."

This is just the beginning of my class... Can't wait to find more errors...

Terrible book
This is a very poorly written book, examples are not clearly shown or in some cases not even properly done. One example problem in chapter two gives the question and the answer is "Through a series of mathematical equations and procedures you get this: (answer)" with no helpful information. Proper tables and information may be pages away from the actual example or explanation. Some sentences are broken by formulas with no relevance to what the sentence is describing, only for you to find out the equation is for an example you were looking at several pages earlier. There are typos and errors on every page, which my professor had to continuously correct and tell us what to actually do.

The only reason I would buy this book for is if your class requires it and you have no other way to get problem sets. I would definitely suggest another book.

Introduction to Probability and Statisitics for Engineers and Scientists
Another Elsevier classic. Good undergraduate textbook or postgraduate reference. I am very happy with this book.

Are you kidding?
Naturally. probability and counting are difficult concepts to grasp. So therefore, let's make a book without answers in the back (ehm, what's the point of solving a problem if you don't have anything to check it against?). I'm rather surprised this comes out of an engineer.

What I'm not surprised by is the explanations. They are like bombs. Basically, here's an equation, it works, use it (maybe that's how engineers work?). Why does it work? Derivation? Hello? Wherever there are actually explanations I would not consider them enough for a regular student to understand.

I'm disappointed, this book is making my prob and stats course harder than it should be.

Please benefit from my pain and stay away from this book
I have a record of straight As in every undergrad math course there is, and some graduate ones too.I am back in school as a PhD candidate, and find this book among the worst I have seen on the topic.The author's explanation of concepts are poor or nonexistent, and the examples skip steps and do not provide the student the opportunity to learn incrementally.I have reviewed several books on the subject now, and I recommend checking out Prob & Stats for Engineers and Scientists by Walpole and Meyers, 6th Edition.It's crystal clear, consistent and is saving my degree program! ... Read more

Product Description
This manual contains worked-out solutions to selected problems in the text, showing students step by step how to complete exercises. Student Description: This manual contains worked-out solutions to selected problems in the text, showing you step by step how to complete exercises. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good, and Not So Good

This book can be a real help when working through difficult concepts.The down side is that it's really expensive for what it is.We're talking $50 or $60 which seems like extortion because the students who buy these things are the ones really struggling and need the help the most.

If you are struggling with your course, consider this book AFTER you've exhausted Google and one of the many Schaum's guides.You do have to learn the stuff for your test, and I found that those two methods are cheaper and provide better results.

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Customer Reviews (3)

A history book
This is a high school level historical account on the development of the ideas of probability (mostly) and statistics, from ancient times to the present. There are the standard bio info of the major characters (where they were born, their parents (ho hum), and some anecdotes on their careers, but all without cited references. Specifically, Tabak claims that Newton said of DeMoivre, "Go to Mr. DeMoivre; he knows these things better than I do.", which is totally out of character for the lengendarily harsh Newton, whose refusal to attribute any credit to his peers are widely documented. One will not learn any mathematical principles or how to solve problems.
And why is Einstein on the cover. He would not be considered among the top 10 giants of this field. Likewise,
of all his achievements, probabilty theory, 'probably' would not be among the top 5 (although his work on Brownian motion is covered here), his oft quoted "God does not play dice", notwithstanding.

Gentle, brilliant and concise - easy reading!
This book is gentle, easy reading on the history of how and why the study of Statistics and Probability came into being. Some actual math is covered, but mostly this book is a primer on basic ideas - not formulas or math. You won't learn how to calculate a mean/median/mode, but you will appreciate the general idea of why statistics or probability is an applied science.

I feel like this book is one of the best that I have ever read on a subject. I wanted to learn the topic, but without the background in this book, the subject could have been just cold theory.Now I can evaluate my next statistics/probability book with open eyes.

entertaining - makes statistics come alive
This is not a book for someone who is trying to teach themselves statistics. It's a book for someone stuck in a statistics class wondering, 'What the heck is this stuff good for? Is this the most boring stuff in the world or what?'
You will enjoy the class a lot more if you read this while learning statistics or even after you've finished the course. And of course, it will enhance your learning if you read the book before you get in the classroom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent book !
Excellent book! Informative and easy to read. Statistic is an area of Math that can be a daunting prospect at college. This book encourages and explains, nurturing competency.From an educative standpoint it builds up the students confidence and sense of accomplishment.Stats something not to be afraid of, we can all learn stats by using this book!

Statistics Book
I receieved my book in a great condition just like the seller said and would order from this seller again. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wiley Paperback Series makes valuable content more accessible to a new generation of statisticians, mathematicians and scientists.

Sensitivity analysis is used to ascertain how a given model output depends upon the input parameters. This is an important method for checking the quality of a given model, as well as a powerful tool for checking the robustness and reliability of its analysis. The topic is acknowledged as essential for good modelling practice and is an implicit part of any modelling field.

• Offers an accessible introduction to sensitivity analysis.
• Covers all the latest research.
• Illustrates concepts with numerous examples, applications and case studies.
• Includes contributions from the leading researchers active in developing strategies for sensitivity analysis.

The principles of sensitivity analysis are carefully described and suitable methods for approaching many types of problems are given. The book introduces the modeller to the entire casual assessment chain, from data to predictions, whilst explaining the impact of source uncertainties and framing assumptions. A ‘hitch-hikers guide’ is included to allow the more experienced reader to readily access specific applications.

Modellers from a wide range of disciplines, including biostatistics, economics, environmental impact assessment, chemistry and engineering will benefit greatly from the numerous examples and applications.

"Presents many different sensitivity analysis methodologies and demonstrates their usefulness in scientific research." (Zentralblatt MATH) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

First "hands on" sensitivity analysis
This book provides introduction to theoretical background and first "hands on" practical computations in sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis is based on systems view of statistical evaluation in quantification and extraction of effects of input factors in multivariate, nonlinear and dynamical systems on system output performance. The authors review essentials of theoretical approaches and algorithms through several simple small scale problems with paradigm notions. At the same time, the book serves as a guide for use of freely available software SimLab provided by the same authors.
The book is highly recommendable to all researchers involved in modeling in a very broad range of complex systems, such as in economy, environmental studies, biology, medical engineering, chemistry etc.

Sensitivity analysis for everybody
Too often modellers do not realise that sensitivity analysis is an essential part of the model building process. This volume has a didactical value showing how SA is often useful - and sometimes essential- to complete the model building process and to interpret results properly. It guides the reader through an array of different approaches, illustrating in a generally clear fashion the specificity of the different techniques to different problem-setting.

Although this is a multi-authored book, the discourse flows clearly across (most of) the chapters and coveys the main element of this new discipline.

The authors-editors show an overall preference for sensitivity analysis methods capable of global quantitative sensitivity analysis; the sections of the book devoted to local methods and to regression analysis are rather a useful review than actually new material. The sections on variance-based methods and on high dimensional model representations are probably the most instructive for the educated reader.

The applications are in general well presented and instructive. These range from atmospheric chemistry to material physics. A chapter on available software is also offered. Finally the chapter from Beck and Chen(Assuring The Quality Of Models Designed For Predictive Tasks) establishes the needed link between the present raging debate on model validation and the use of adequate sensitivity analysis methods. ... Read more

Product Description

Matrix algebra is one of the most important areas of mathematics for data analysis and for statistical theory. This much-needed work presents the relevant aspects of the theory of matrix algebra for applications in statistics. It moves on to consider the various types of matrices encountered in statistics, such as projection matrices and positive definite matrices, and describes the special properties of those matrices. Finally, it covers numerical linear algebra, beginning with a discussion of the basics of numerical computations, and following up with accurate and efficient algorithms for factoring matrices, solving linear systems of equations, and extracting eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Customer Reviews (1)

I'm not sure why no one else has reviewed this book yet -- it's served me well
I am not a real mathematician or hard core numeric analyst; my formal training is lacking, and maybe that's why I don't gravitate to Dennis Bernstein's text or others like it.I have managed to get past the very basics (rank, determinants, permanents, spectral decomposition, Jordon normal form) and come to appreciate the numeric issues involved in computing (or, more to the point, avoiding the computation of) inverses and pseudoinverses.The theory is less interesting to me than, or at least is primarily in service of, the applications. James Gentle's treatment of how numeric computing is actually done serves as useful context which I found missing in some more theoretical texts, and glossed over by some introductory texts.I guess that's why I keep coming back to it.It serves my personal needs.I find it surprisingly readable; diagrams are used as needed, and its index is good.

Perhaps I am simply in a sort of limbo, where this intermediate (?) linear algebra text is something I might eventually outgrow.(When that might happen, I'm sure I don't know)Experienced numeric analysts seem to prefer treatments like Bernstein, Horn, or Golub & Van Loan, while the SIAM text by Meyer or the classic textbooks by Strang are probably better introductions.This book is clearly slanted towards statisticians, and more than that, statisticians who find themselves operating on large datasets, perhaps without a rigorous math background.It was invaluable to me when I had to implement my own GLM engine (for reasons too boring to discuss here, I couldn't use GPLed software).You don't really need it to peck at R, for example, but if you go to scale up a piece of code in C++ or similar, it will be much more difficult if you haven't digested this material.(I find Jorge Nocedal's "Numeric Optimization" to be an extremely useful companion to Gentle's book)

It's cheaper (on Amazon, at least), and to my mind more coherent, than any of the other texts I have listed above.Our university library is superb, so I've checked out all of them, and I own Meyer's book.(It was very useful for me to get started and I wish I'd had it when I took p-chem)But now Gentle's book is the one on my desk (library sticker and all -- I still haven't bought it, though I've had it out on loan for something like 10 months now).I doubt that a physicist will learn anything new from it, but a CS student might.Gentle has a newer textbook out on Computational Statistics, so depending on your focus, that may be of equal or greater value to you.I can just read papers (or look for implementations) if I need specific solutions; this book helps me organize different methods by theme, and provides just enough rigor for me to maintain mathematical context.

If you are in a similar situation, I think you'll find this book to be a valuable resource.I have.
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