Fifty Challenging Problems in Probability with Solutions

This book is a collection of 56 elementary problems in probability theory, together with their solutions. The problems are presented in the style of recreational mathematics puzzles rather than dry textbook exercises. Although many of the problems have no broader applicability, some of the problems, particularly the problems on random walks in two and three dimensions, have significant applications. Some of the problems are also of historical interest. For example, Mosteller includes a problem involving a dice game that Samuel Pepys asked Isaac Newton about in a letter written in 1693. Most of the problems can be solved using nothing more than algebra. A few problems require some calculus. This book is highly recommended for upper level high school students and lower level undergraduates. Teachers will also find it to be a great source of enrichment material.

Brian Borchers is a professor of Mathematics at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. His interests are in optimization and applications of optimization in parameter estimation and inverse problems.