Talk:Probability/Introduction

As I understand it, the "60% chance of rain" means that rain is expected to fall on about 60% of the area. Perhaps there is a better everyday example. CyborgTosser 08:12, 12 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Eibwen, you are mistaken about odds. Please see the Wikipedia article on odds. As it says both here in the text, and there, odds is the ratio of the probability an event will happen to the probability it will not happen. Mathematically, odds = p/(1-p). The probability a coin will land heads is 50%. The probability it will not land heads is 50%. Therefore, the odds it will land heads is 50%/50% = 1:1, not 1:2. CyborgTosser 08:18, 12 Oct 2004 (UTC)

The approach in the material I have added, by the way, is loosely based on Probability and Random Processes with Applications to Signal Processing by Henry Stark and John W. Woods. CyborgTosser 10:47, 12 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Abstract Algebra
It would seem that if somebody had a passable grasp of abstract algebra (other than what you might learn about Fields in freshman year courses) then you'd think that they'd probably have been introduced to probablility to some extent. Wouldn't it be better to omit the abstract algebra if at all possible?