Probability foundations for engineers - Joel A Nachlas

Suitable for a first course in probability theory and designed specifically for industrial engineering and operations management students, Probability Foundations for Engineers covers theory in an accessible manner and includes numerous practical examples based on engineering applications. Essentially, everyone understands and deals with probability every day in their normal lives. Nevertheless, for some reason, when engineering students who have good math skills are presented with the mathematics of probability theory, there is a disconnect somewhere.

The book begins with a summary of set theory and then introduces probability and its axioms. The author has carefully avoided a theorem-proof type of presentation. He includes all of the theory but presents it in a conversational rather than formal manner, while relying on the assumption that undergraduate engineering students have a solid mastery of calculus. He explains mathematical theory by demonstrating how it is used with examples based on engineering applications. An important aspect of the text is the fact that examples are not presented in terms of "balls in urns". Many examples relate to gambling with coins, dice and cards but most are based on observable physical phenomena familiar to engineering students.