Probability Tales

Assuming that undergraduate students are learning basic theory from another text, Grinstead et al. supplement their learning with real-world topics explained through the perspective of probability theory: sports streaks and their correlation to a coin-tossing model; the stock market, with discussion of power laws and their effects on stock prices; lotteries and the effects of income tax, present value, and sharing on their value; and the use of fingerprints in fighting crime. Most of the technical math is placed in the appendices, and one semester of calculus is helpful, but not required. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)