Fat Chance: Probability from 0 to 1 is an introductory undergraduate-level textbook on probability theory, centered on the metaphor of games of chance.[1] It was written by Benedict Gross, Joe Harris, and Emily Riehl, based on a course for non-mathematicians taught to Harvard University undergraduates, and published by the Cambridge University Press in 2019. An associated online course has been offered to the public by Harvard.[2]
Topics
Unusually for a probability theory book, this book does not use the phrase "random variable", instead referring to random processes as games.[3] The first five chapters of the book concern counting problems, and include material on the exponential function, binomial coefficients, factorials, and games of cards, dice, and coins. After an interlude involving the binomial theorem, Pascal's triangle, and the Catalan numbers, the rest of the book concerns probability more directly. Its chapters concern the expected value, conditional probability and Bayes' theorem, events with unequal probabilities (biased coins and loaded dice), geometric probability, the law of large numbers, and normal distributions.[1][2]
Audience and reception
Reviewer Ludwig Paditz recommends the book to "readers without deeper knowledge in elementary statistics and probability".[3] Reviewer Massimo Nespolo recommends as well that its readers take advantage of the associated online course offering.[2]
References
Bollman, Mark, "Review of Fat Chance", Mathematical Reviews, MR 3931738
Nespolo, Massimo (November 2019), "Review of Fat Chance", Journal of Applied Crystallography, 52 (6): 1467–1468, doi:10.1107/s1600576719014055
Paditz, Ludwig, "Review of Fat Chance", zbMATH, Zbl 1423.00005
Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics
Graduate Studies in Mathematics
Hellenica World - Scientific Library
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