Starbird M. What are Chances. Probability Made Clear

The Great Courses, 2006. — 87 p.In no place is the role of probability clearer than in games of chance; thus, we will introduce some of the basic ideas of probability using cards, dice, and roulette. In fact, it was in the arena of gambling that the mathematical investigation of probability first arose. In the 17th century, a gambler by the name of Antoine Gombault, the Chevalier de Méré, sought the advice of leading mathematicians of the day with the goal of improving his ability to make good decisions when playing dice. In answering Gombault’s questions, Pierre Fermat and Blaise Pascal developed the fundamental concepts of probability.Our Random World—Probability Defined.
The Nature of Randomness.
Expected Value—You Can Bet on It.
Random Thoughts on Random Walks.
Probability Phenomena of Physics.
Probability Is in Our Genes.
Options and Our Financial Future.
Probability Where We Don’t Expect It.
Probability Surprises.
Conundrums of Conditional Probability.
Believe It or Not—Bayesian Probability.
Probability Everywhere.
Timeline.Biographical Notes.