What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life
In this fascinating book, mathematician Ed Beltrami takes a close enough look at randomness to make it mysteriously disappear. The results of coin tosses, it turns out, are determined from the start, and only our incomplete knowledge makes them look random. "Random" sequences of numbers are more elusive, but Godels undecidability theorem informs us that we will never know. Those familiar with quantum indeterminacy assert that order is an illusion, and that the world is fundamentally random. Yet randomness is also an illusion. Perhaps order and randomness, like waves and particles, are only two sides of the same (tossed) coin.
1111873135
What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life
In this fascinating book, mathematician Ed Beltrami takes a close enough look at randomness to make it mysteriously disappear. The results of coin tosses, it turns out, are determined from the start, and only our incomplete knowledge makes them look random. "Random" sequences of numbers are more elusive, but Godels undecidability theorem informs us that we will never know. Those familiar with quantum indeterminacy assert that order is an illusion, and that the world is fundamentally random. Yet randomness is also an illusion. Perhaps order and randomness, like waves and particles, are only two sides of the same (tossed) coin.
37.99 In Stock
What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life

What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life

by Edward Beltrami
What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life

What Is Random?: Chance and Order in Mathematics and Life

by Edward Beltrami

Overview

In this fascinating book, mathematician Ed Beltrami takes a close enough look at randomness to make it mysteriously disappear. The results of coin tosses, it turns out, are determined from the start, and only our incomplete knowledge makes them look random. "Random" sequences of numbers are more elusive, but Godels undecidability theorem informs us that we will never know. Those familiar with quantum indeterminacy assert that order is an illusion, and that the world is fundamentally random. Yet randomness is also an illusion. Perhaps order and randomness, like waves and particles, are only two sides of the same (tossed) coin.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781071607985
Publisher: Springer US
Publication date: 07/30/2020
Edition description: 2nd ed. 2020
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.00(w) x 7.99(h) x (d)

About the Author

Edward Beltrami is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Applied Mathematics at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York. His research interests include probability theory, mathematical biology, mathematical modelling, and many more. He is the author of several books on the applications of mathematics.

Beltrami lives with his wife and several cats in suburban Long Island. He enjoys cooking, listening to music, and being a part-time wine critic.

Table of Contents

The Taming of Chance.- Uncertainty and Information.- Janus-Faced Randomness.- Algorithms, Information, and Chance.- The Edge of Randomness.- Fooled by Chance.- Sources and Further Readings.- Technical Notes.- Appendix A: Geometric Sums.- Appendix B: Binary Numbers.- Appendix C: Logarithms.
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Related Subjects

Science & Technology
Mathematics
Probability Theory
Statistics
Science & Technology
Mathematics
Probability Theory
Statistics

Customer Reviews