Fundamentals of Probability and Statistics for Engineers
Chapter One
Introduction
At present, almost all undergraduate curricula in engineering and applied
sciences contain at least one basic course in probability and statistical inference.
The recognition of this need for introducing the ideas of probability theory in
a wide variety of scientific fields today reflects in part some of the profound
changes in science and engineering education over the past 25 years.
One of the most significant is the greater emphasis that has been placed upon
complexity and precision. A scientist now recognizes the importance of studying
scientific phenomena having complex interrelations among their components;
these components are often not only mechanical or electrical parts but
also 'soft-science' in nature, such as those stemming from behavioral and social
sciences. The design of a comprehensive transportation system, for example, ... read full excerpt from Fundamentals of Probability and Statistics for Engineers ebook