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Math · Advanced

Probability Distributions

Random doesn't mean shapeless. Learn the distributions that describe coin flips, rare events and waiting times, see why random events clump together, why the median wait is shorter than the mean, how many packs it takes to fill a sticker album, and how a thousand coin flips become predictable.

7 lessons~35 min0/7 complete
Start courseHelpful background: Probability
1

Counting Successes

Random variables and the binomial.

  1. Random VariablesMean and spread of a random number
  2. The Binomial DistributionSuccesses in repeated trials
2

Rare Events and Waiting

Poisson counts and waiting times.

  1. Rare EventsThe Poisson distribution
  2. Waiting TimesGeometric and exponential waits
  3. Predictable RandomnessWhen chance becomes certainty
3

Collectors and Records

Two surprising waiting games.

  1. Collect Them AllThe coupon collector’s problem
  2. Record BreakersHow often records fall

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