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Book Cover for: Will You Be Alive 10 Years from Now?: And Numerous Other Curious Questions in Probability, Paul J. Nahin

Will You Be Alive 10 Years from Now?: And Numerous Other Curious Questions in Probability

Paul J. Nahin

A collection of stimulating probability puzzles from bestselling math writer Paul Nahin

What are the chances of a game-show contestant finding a chicken in a box? Is the Hanukkah dreidel a fair game? Will you be alive ten years from now? These are some of the one-of-a-kind probability puzzles that popular math writer Paul Nahin offers in this lively and informative book. Nahin brings probability to life with colorful historical anecdotes and a unique puzzle-solving approach that illustrates many of the techniques mathematicians use to grapple with probability. He looks at classic puzzles--from Galileo's dice-tossing problem to a disarming dice puzzle that would have astonished even Newton--and presents a dozen challenge problems and twenty-five probability puzzlers. With wit and insight, Nahin demonstrates why seemingly simple probability problems can stump even the experts.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Princeton University Press
  • Publish Date: Nov 12nd, 2019
  • Pages: 256
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.70in - 5.70in - 1.00in - 0.80lb
  • EAN: 9780691196367
  • Categories: Probability & Statistics - General

About the Author

Paul J. Nahin is the author of many popular math books, including How to Fall Slower Than Gravity, In Praise of Simple Physics, and An Imaginary Tale (all Princeton). He is professor emeritus of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire.

Praise for this book

"Genuinely captivating and surprising."--Popular Science
"A wonderful book for trained math lovers who enjoy the mental stimulation provided by a good mathematics puzzle."--Harold D. Shane, Library Journal
"Prolific mathematics author Nahin presents a series of thought-provoking probability questions designed to intrigue the reader."--Choice
"The author's infectious enthusiasm is evident here. . . . Students at various levels and other fans of mathematics will find much to engage their interest and challenge their minds."--G. A. Heuer, Mathematical Reviews