Probability For Dummies (For Dummies Series) Paperback – 17 Mar. 2006

I am doing a maths degree, and had to do a module in probability.I am rubbish at probability, made worse by being a mature student and having cobwebs instead of a grasp of probability.What this book will not do is help with the formulas that under pin probability. It might mention them, and even use them, but it is very basic in that aspect.What this book will help with is the concepts behind probability. I didn't have a clue about probability, everyone on my course had done the basics in their A level maths, where I was stuck with everything.This book showed me how to draw probability trees and how they work. That alone helped me pass the module, I wouldn't use the formulas for Total Probability, I would draw a huge tree and work everything out on that. The book tells you when to add probabilities together, and when to multiply them, which was something I could not wrap my head around. It explains conditional probability without using all the maths notation that fried my brain in lectures.By using the concepts in this book to learn what was going on, I was able to get to grips with the maths behind probability and pass the module, fingers crossed with a first!As the title says, the book is for dummies so do not expect any thing else and if you have a basic understanding of probability I would look for another book. As I was clueless, and this book helped me, I'll give it 5 stars.Update: I got a first in my probability module and I put it down to a couple of days spent reading this book.

As other reviewers have noted, this is a serious introduction to probability that doesn't shy away from the mathematics yet explains the principles and formulae in a very approachable style. After studying this book you will have a solid foundation in probability theory and the tools to work out probability problems. Notice in the last sentence I used the word "study". This really isn't a book "for dummies".I've only given this book three stars however because of a major omission. There are no practice questions with which you can test your progress, As some/many of the concepts explained in this book are quite abstract, simply reading a chapter and thinking you understand it is not enough, even if you read the chapter two or three times. You need to practice what you learn if only to prove to yourself that you really do understand what is being taught.I have read both the Statistics 1 & 2 for Dummies and the Algebra 1 & 2 for Dummies. Each of these books have an accompanying workbook crammed full of questions pertaining to the theory taught in the relevant chapter of the textbook. Why on earth the publishers didn't think Probability for Dummies didn't require such a workbook is beyond me.So a very good introduction to probability that will give you a solid foundation but let down by the omission of any questions by which you can test your progress and practice what you learn. A real shame, it would have been 5 stars otherwise.

As with all "for Dummies" books the format succeeds in being fun and factual- however I dispute that this is for those with little or no knowledge of probability, in a few pages it lapses into lots and lots of algebraic formulae which I feel is not really explained. I have no doubt the author is a world leading expert; however we (who really are Dummies), need hand-holding. We need the writer to stop and give us a reality check quite often. By which I mean, " not sure why n! goes in the numerator?" or "hey! what's all this n stuff anyway?" This is not the case. To be honest I am beginning to think that there are some subjects which cannot be "forDummiesized".

Very good read, I like the part where you can apply Statistics to gambling.

Top Quality

book arrived on time and in good condition. I bought it to refresh and to learn. it is a must have for those of us really interested in becoming alot better at math and eventually will pursue statistics and business statistics

good

By chapter 2 you will be able to understand most probability problems.