A Quick Look At The Fundamentals Of Probability Theory

By Marissa Velazquez


The fundamentals of probability theory encompass a number of mathematical principles which affects our daily lives. This branch of mathematics deals with a number of events which affects how we make decisions. It evaluates and studies different events which do not follow a pattern. Several disciplines are essential in the study of random events. Stochastic processes analysis, study of random variables and abstract systems forms the core of this discipline.

Our lives are a system of random events. What takes place today may not occur the following day or days to follow. Today it could be sunny, and then a day after temperatures falls. They could go up randomly a couple of days later. Probability takes into consideration all this changes through the study of random variable s and stochastic processes. Natural disasters also fall under this category. The weatherman uses this approach in predicting the odds of hurricanes, snow avalanches and torrential rain occurring.

Random variables can be classified into two. The deterministic follows a certain path of occurrence for a specified period of time. The non-deterministic events have stochastic characteristics. This means that the events occur in random way. A random walk is taken through the system. The two categories may get mixed and lead to events that have mixture of the two.

Mathematics always categorizes the number of events depending on the size of sample taken into consideration. For instance, when rolling a dice there can only be six events. Studying of population may use larger figures such as hundreds of people. The numbers are grouped into small and large numbers. This follows the law of large which is studied under the central limit theorem.

The construction of samples needs to be dome during the study of large populations. This happens when the populations under the study is very expensive. Studying it wholly would very expensive. Representatives of such populations are used. The samples are carefully taken from the population without bias. Quantitative analysis of such samples is done by statisticians. This could be based on the large and complex number systems or event the set theory. The research can be extended too population and statistical geography, chemistry and physics.

Variables can be classified as either discrete or continuous. This gives rise to discrete and continuous distributions. Continuous distribution is one which the set of values in it occur in a continuous way. Such sets cannot be aggregated. The discrete sets of data can only be aggregated during mathematical manipulations. Such figures often tend to be whole numbers or rounded off.

The growth and development of most of the world economies can be attributed to creation of advanced risk and analysis systems. The economies go through a number of cycles. As the businesses pass through the depressions, booms and bursts, there a couple of risks in each phase. Sets of data have to be collected over a specified time frame for the modeling of these risks.

The fundamentals of probability theory play a very important role in our lives. It is used day in day out in making of various decisions. Before such decisions are made, the odds have to be weighed against each other depending on the available data. This extends to the gambling abilities which are founded on the stochastic processes.




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