Description

This course will explore the mathematical nature of probability, primarily for so-called discrete sample spaces, i.e. where the number of possible outcomes of some thought experiment (e.g. coin tossing) is countable.

The course will start with an explanation of the ways of enumerating possible outcomes of events, e.g. the number of ways a set of books can be arranged on a bookshelf or the number of ways a committee can be chosen from a group of people. Then probability will be defined and the counting tools used to calculate probabilities in various situations. The last session will look at density functions (e.g the well know bell-shaped curve) and distribution functions; these unfamiliar terms to be defined in the course are powerful tools to understand probability.

Pre-requisite: You will need some basic arithmetic skills (especially understanding of fractions), some basic understanding of graphs and willingness to learn some mathematical notations which simplify description of the concepts presented in the course.

Please note: This class has been re-worked by comparison to a previous course of similar name and should be much more comprehensible!