The basics of discrete probability
As we have said, making predictions or finding probabilities requires careful analysis, so we need a mathematical framework for probability. It will all center around the idea of a random experiment.
Definition – random experiment
A random experiment is any process that has an uncertain outcome.
Simple examples of random experiments are tossing a coin or rolling a die, each of which has an uncertain outcome. These are easy to analyze, but some random experiments are much more difficult, such as predicting tomorrow's weather. Despite the complexity, experts can estimate the chance of each possible result of the random experiment using complex meteorological models, taking into account temperatures, humidity, and other atmospheric data.
Something each example has in common is that there is a random result for each experiment. A coin toss may result in heads or tails. We may roll a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 on the die. The weather may...
