RegionProbability and Statistics for Computer Scientists
By Michael Baron
- Price: $89.95
- Binding/Format: Hardback
- ISBN: 978-1-58488-641-9
- Publish Date: December 13th 2006
- Imprint: Chapman & Hall
- Pages: 426 pages
Description
In modern computer science, software engineering, and other fields, the need arises to make decisions under uncertainty. Presenting probability and statistical methods, simulation techniques, and modeling tools, Probability and Statistics for Computer Scientists helps students solve problems and make optimal decisions in uncertain conditions, select stochastic models, compute probabilities and forecasts, and evaluate performance of computer systems and networks.
After introducing probability and distributions, this easy-to-follow textbook provides two course options. The first approach is a probability-oriented course that begins with stochastic processes, Markov chains, and queuing theory, followed by computer simulations and Monte Carlo methods. The second approach is a more standard, statistics-emphasized course that focuses on statistical inference, estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression. Assuming one or two semesters of college calculus, the book is illustrated throughout with numerous examples, exercises, figures, and tables that stress direct applications in computer science and software engineering. It also provides MATLAB® codes and demonstrations written in simple commands that can be directly translated into other computer languages.
By the end of this course, advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students should be able to read a word problem or a corporate report, realize the uncertainty involved in the described situation, select a suitable probability model, estimate and test its parameters based on real data, compute probabilities of interesting events and other vital characteristics, and make appropriate conclusions and forecasts.
Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
Making decisions under uncertainty
Overview of this book
PROBABILITY
Sample space, events, and probability
Rules of probability
Equally likely outcomes. Combinatorics
Conditional probability. Independence
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS
Distribution of a random variable
Distribution of a random vector
Expectation and variance
Families of discrete distributions
CONTINUOUS DISTRIBUTIONS
Probability density
Families of continuous distributions
Central limit theorem
COMPUTER SIMULATIONS AND MONTE CARLO METHODS
Introduction
Simulation of random variables
Solving problems by Monte Carlo methods
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
Definitions and classifications
Markov processes and Markov chains
Counting processes
Simulation of stochastic processes
QUEUING SYSTEMS
Main components of a queuing system
The Little’s Law
Bernoulli single-server queuing process
M/M/1 system
Multiserver queuing systems
Simulation of queuing systems
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
Population and sample, parameters and statistics
Simple descriptive statistics
Graphical statistics
STATISTICAL INFERENCE
Parameter estimation
Confidence intervals
Unknown standard deviation
Hypothesis testing
Bayesian estimation and hypothesis testing
REGRESSION
Least squares estimation
Analysis of variance, prediction, and further inference
Multivariate regression
Model building
APPENDIX
Inventory of distributions
Distribution tables
Calculus review
Matrices and linear systems
Answers to selected exercises
Index