Probabilistic and Statistical Methods in Computer Science

Student-Friendly Coverage of Probability, Statistical Methods, Simulation, and Modeling Tools Incorporating feedback from instructors and researchers who used the previous edition, Probability and Statistics for Computer Scientists, Second Edition helps students understand general methods of stochastic modeling, simulation, and data analysis; make optimal decisions under uncertainty; model and evaluate computer systems and networks; and prepare for advanced probability-based courses. Written in a lively style with simple language, this classroom-tested book can now be used in both one- and two-semester courses. New to the Second Edition Axiomatic introduction of probability Expanded coverage of statistical inference, including standard errors of estimates and their estimation, inference about variances, chi-square tests for independence and goodness of fit, nonparametric statistics, and bootstrap More exercises at the end of each chapter Additional MATLAB® codes, particularly new commands of the Statistics Toolbox In-Depth yet Accessible Treatment of Computer Science-Related Topics Starting with the fundamentals of probability, the text takes students through topics heavily featured in modern computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, and associated fields, such as computer simulations, Monte Carlo methods, stochastic processes, Markov chains, queuing theory, statistical inference, and regression. It also meets the requirements of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Encourages Practical Implementation of Skills Using simple MATLAB commands (easily translatable to other computer languages), the book provides short programs for implementing the methods of probability and statistics as well as for visualizing randomness, the behavior of random variables and stochastic processes, convergence results, and Monte Carlo simulations. Preliminary knowledge of MATLAB is not required. Along with numerous computer science applications and worked examples, the text presents interesting facts and paradoxical statements. Each chapter concludes with a short summary and many exercises.

This textbook is aimed at computer science undergraduates late in sophomore or early in junior year, supplying a comprehensive background in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, probability, random variables, and statistical methods, including machine learning. With careful treatment of topics that fill the curricular needs for the course, Probability and Statistics for Computer Science features: • A treatment of random variables and expectations dealing primarily with the discrete case. • A practical treatment of simulation, showing how many interesting probabilities and expectations can be extracted, with particular emphasis on Markov chains. • A clear but crisp account of simple point inference strategies (maximum likelihood; Bayesian inference) in simple contexts. This is extended to cover some confidence intervals, samples and populations for random sampling with replacement, and the simplest hypothesis testing. • A chapter dealing with classification, explaining why it’s useful; how to train SVM classifiers with stochastic gradient descent; and how to use implementations of more advanced methods such as random forests and nearest neighbors. • A chapter dealing with regression, explaining how to set up, use and understand linear regression and nearest neighbors regression in practical problems. • A chapter dealing with principal components analysis, developing intuition carefully, and including numerous practical examples. There is a brief description of multivariate scaling via principal coordinate analysis. • A chapter dealing with clustering via agglomerative methods and k-means, showing how to build vector quantized features for complex signals. Illustrated throughout, each main chapter includes many worked examples and other pedagogical elements such as boxed Procedures, Definitions, Useful Facts, and Remember This (short tips). Problems and Programming Exercises are at the end of each chapter, with a summary of what the reader should know. Instructor resources include a full set of model solutions for all problems, and an Instructor's Manual with accompanying presentation slides.

Comprehensive and thorough development of both probability and statistics for serious computer scientists; goal-oriented: "to present the mathematical analysis underlying probability results" Special emphases on simulation and discrete decision theory Mathematically-rich, but self-contained text, at a gentle pace Review of calculus and linear algebra in an appendix Mathematical interludes (in each chapter) which examine mathematical techniques in the context of probabilistic or statistical importance Numerous section exercises, summaries, historical notes, and Further Readings for reinforcement of content

This book strikes a healthy balance between theory and applications, ensuring that it doesn’t offer a set of tools with no mathematical roots. It is intended as a comprehensive and largely self-contained introduction to probability and statistics for university students from various faculties, with accompanying implementations of some rudimentary statistical techniques in the language R. The content is divided into three basic parts: the first includes elements of probability theory, the second introduces readers to the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics (estimation, hypothesis testing), and the third presents the elements of correlation and linear regression analysis. Thanks to examples showing how to approach real-world problems using statistics, readers will acquire stronger analytical thinking skills, which are essential for analysts and data scientists alike.

An accessible introduction to probability, stochastic processes, and statistics for computer science and engineering applications Second edition now also available in Paperback. This updated and revised edition of the popular classic first edition relates fundamental concepts in probability and statistics to the computer sciences and engineering. The author uses Markov chains and other statistical tools to illustrate processes in reliability of computer systems and networks, fault tolerance, and performance. This edition features an entirely new section on stochastic Petri nets—as well as new sections on system availability modeling, wireless system modeling, numerical solution techniques for Markov chains, and software reliability modeling, among other subjects. Extensive revisions take new developments in solution techniques and applications into account and bring this work totally up to date. It includes more than 200 worked examples and self-study exercises for each section. Probability and Statistics with Reliability, Queuing and Computer Science Applications, Second Edition offers a comprehensive introduction to probability, stochastic processes, and statistics for students of computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and applied mathematics. Its wealth of practical examples and up-to-date information makes it an excellent resource for practitioners as well. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.

At last—a social scientist's guide through the pitfalls of modern statistical computing Addressing the current deficiency in the literature on statistical methods as they apply to the social and behavioral sciences, Numerical Issues in Statistical Computing for the Social Scientist seeks to provide readers with a unique practical guidebook to the numerical methods underlying computerized statistical calculations specific to these fields. The authors demonstrate that knowledge of these numerical methods and how they are used in statistical packages is essential for making accurate inferences. With the aid of key contributors from both the social and behavioral sciences, the authors have assembled a rich set of interrelated chapters designed to guide empirical social scientists through the potential minefield of modern statistical computing. Uniquely accessible and abounding in modern-day tools, tricks, and advice, the text successfully bridges the gap between the current level of social science methodology and the more sophisticated technical coverage usually associated with the statistical field. Highlights include: A focus on problems occurring in maximum likelihood estimation Integrated examples of statistical computing (using software packages such as the SAS, Gauss, Splus, R, Stata, LIMDEP, SPSS, WinBUGS, and MATLAB®) A guide to choosing accurate statistical packages Discussions of a multitude of computationally intensive statistical approaches such as ecological inference, Markov chain Monte Carlo, and spatial regression analysis Emphasis on specific numerical problems, statistical procedures, and their applications in the field Replications and re-analysis of published social science research, using innovative numerical methods Key numerical estimation issues along with the means of avoiding common pitfalls A related Web site includes test data for use in demonstrating numerical problems, code for applying the original methods described in the book, and an online bibliography of Web resources for the statistical computation Designed as an independent research tool, a professional reference, or a classroom supplement, the book presents a well-thought-out treatment of a complex and multifaceted field.