Author(s) : Unknown

Packed with practical tips and techniques for solving probability problems Increase your chances of acing that probability exam -- or winning at the casino! Whether you're hitting the books for a probability or statistics course or hitting the tables at a casino, working out probabilities can be problematic. This book helps you even the odds. Using easy-to-understand explanations and examples, it demystifies probability -- and even offers savvy tips to boost your chances of gambling success! Discover how to Conquer combinations and permutations Understand probability models from binomial to exponential Make good decisions using probability Play the odds in poker, roulette, and other games Probability For Dummies 5 Table of Contents 13 Introduction 23 About This Book 23 Conventions Used in This Book 24 What You’re Not to Read 24 Foolish Assumptions 25 How This Book Is Organized 25 Icons Used in This Book 27 Where to Go from Here 28 Chapter 1: The Probability in Everyday Life 31 Figuring Out what Probability Means 31 Coming Up with Probabilities 34 Probability Misconceptions to Avoid 39 Chapter 2: Coming to Terms with Probability 41 A Set Notation Overview 41 Probabilities of Events Involving A and/or B 46 Understanding and Applying the Rules of Probability 51 Recognizing Independence in Multiple Events 54 Including Mutually Exclusive Events 56 Distinguishing Independent from Mutually Exclusive Events 58 Chapter 3: Picturing Probability: Venn Diagrams, Tree Diagrams, and Bayes’ Theorem 61 Diagramming Probabilities with Venn Diagrams 62 Mapping Out Probabilities with Tree Diagrams 69 The Law of Total Probability and Bayes’ Theorem 78 Chapter 4: Setting the Contingency Table with Probabilities 89 Organizing a Contingency Table 89 Finding and Interpreting Probabilities within a Contingency Table 92 Checking for Independence of Two Events 96 Chapter 5: Applying Counting Rules with Combinations and Permutations 99 Counting on Permutations 100 Counting Combinations 110 Chapter 6: Against All Odds: Probability in Gaming 125 Knowing Your Chances: Probability, Odds, and Expected Value 126 Playing the Lottery 127 Hitting the Slot Machines 133 Spinning the Roulette Wheel 138 Getting Your Chance to Yell “ BINGO!” 143 Knowing What You’re Up Against: Gambler’s Ruin 147 The Famous Birthday Problem 148 Chapter 7: Probability Distribution Basics 153 The Probability Distribution of a Discrete Random Variable 153 Finding and Using the Cumulative Distribution Function (cdf) 160 Expected Value, Variance, and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable 166 Outlining the Discrete Uniform Distribution 170 Chapter 8: Juggling Success and Failure with the Binomial Distribution 173 Recognizing the Binomial Model 173 Finding Probabilities for the Binomial 177 Formulating the Expected Value and Variance of the Binomial 187 Chapter 9: The Normal (but Never Dull) Distribution 189 Charting the Basics of the Normal Distribution 189 Finding and Using Probabilities for a Normal Distribution 194 Handling Backwards Normal Problems 202 Chapter 10: Approximating a Binomial with a Normal Distribution 209 Identifying When You Need to Approximate Binomials 209 Why the Normal Approximation Works when n Is Large Enough 210 Understanding the Normal Approximation to the Binomial 214 Approximating a Binomial Probability with the Normal: A Coin Example 219 Chapter 11: Sampling Distributions and the Central Limit Theorem 223 Surveying a Sampling Distribution 224 Gaining Access to Your Statistics through the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) 227 The Sampling Distribution of the Sample Total (t) 232 The Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean, X 236 The Sampling Distribution of the Sample Proportion, p 239 Chapter 12: Investigating and Making Decisions with Probability 243 Confidence Intervals and Probability 243 Probability and Hypothesis Testing 248 Probability in Quality Control 253 Chapter 13: Working with the Poisson (a Nonpoisonous) Distribution 257 Counting On Arrivals with the Poisson Model 258 Determining Probabilities for the Poisson 259 Identifying the Expected Value and Variance of the Poisson 265 Changing Units Over Time or Space: The Poisson Process 266 Approximating a Poisson with a Normal 267 Chapter 14: Covering All the Angles of the Geometric Distribution 273 Shaping Up the Geometric Distribution 274 Finding Probabilities for the Geometric by Using the pmf 276 Uncovering the Expected Value and Variance of the Geometric 280 Chapter 15: Making a Positive out of the Negative Binomial Distribution 283 Recognizing the Negative Binomial Model 283 Formulating Probabilities for the Negative Binomial 286 Exploring the Expected Value and Variance of the Negative Binomial 291 Chapter 16: Remaining Calm about the Hypergeometric Distribution 295 Zooming In on the Conditions for the Hypergeometric Model 296 Finding Probabilities for the Hypergeometric Model 297 Measuring the Expected Value and Variance of the Hypergeometric 303 Chapter 17: Staying in Line with the Continuous Uniform Distribution 307 Understanding the Continuous Uniform Distribution 308 Determining the Density Function for the Continuous Uniform Distribution 309 Drawing Up Probabilities for the Continuous Uniform Distribution 312 Corralling Cumulative Probabilities, Using F(x) 316 Figuring the Expected Value and Variance of the Continuous Uniform 318 Chapter 18: The Exponential (and Its Relationship to Poisson) Exposed 321 Identifying the Density Function for the Exponential 322 Determining Probabilities for the Exponential 324 Figuring Formulas for the Expected Value and Variance of the Exponential 329 Relating the Poisson and Exponential Distributions 331 Chapter 19: Ten Steps to a Better Probability Grade 335 Get Into the Problem 336 Understand the Question 336 Organize the Information 337 Write Down the Formula You Need 338 Check the Conditions 339 Calculate with Confidence 340 Show Your Work 341 Check Your Answer 341 Interpret Your Results 343 Make a Review Sheet 343 Chapter 20: Top Ten (Plus One) Probability Mistakes 345 Forgetting a Probability Must Be Between Zero and One 345 Misinterpreting Small Probabilities 346 Using Probability for Short-Term Predictions 347 Thinking That 1-2-3-4-5-6 Can’t Win 347 “Keep ’em Coming . . . I’m on a Roll!” 348 Giving Every Situation a 50-50 Chance 348 Switching Conditional Probabilities Around 349 Applying the Wrong Probability Distribution 350 Leaving Probability Model Conditions Unchecked 351 Confusing Permutations and Combinations 352 Assuming Independence 353 Appendix: Tables for Your Reference 355 Binomial Table 355 Normal Table 359 Poisson Table 362 Index 365

packed With Practical Tips And Techniques For Solving Probability Problems

increase Your Chances Of Acing That Probability Exam — Or Winning At The Casino!

whether You're Hitting The Books For A Probability Or Statistics Course Or Hitting The Tables At A Casino, Working Out Probabilities Can Be Problematic. This Book Helps You Even The Odds. Using Easy-to-understand Explanations And Examples, It Demystifies Probability — And Even Offers Savvy Tips To Boost Your Chances Of Gambling Success!

discover How To

• conquer Combinations And Permutations

• understand Probability Models From Binomial To Exponential

• make Good Decisions Using Probability

• play The Odds In Poker, Roulette, And Other Games

Teach Like a Champion 2.0 is a complete update to the international bestseller. This teaching guide is a must-have for new and experienced teachers alike. Over 700,000 teachers around the world already know how the techniques in this book turn educators into classroom champions. With ideas for everything from classroom management to inspiring student engagement, you will be able to perfect your teaching practice right away. The fun and easy way to conquer statistics and probabilityProbability For Dummies expands upon students' intuitive understanding of the concept of probability through use of examples and clear explanations of mathematics behind this fascinating science "Discover how to: conquer combinations and permutations, understand probability models from binomial to exponential, make good decisions using probability, play the odds in poker, roulette, and other games."--Page 4 of cover