What Are the Chances? Probability Made Clear

Course Overview

Explore the fundamental concepts and fascinating applications of probability in this fun and engaging course by award-winning mathematician Professor Michael Starbird of the University of Texas at Austin. This course consists of 12 enthralling half-hour lectures that help you grasp the random factors that influence everyday situations, from playing poker to investing in stocks. By understanding probability, you’ll learn to navigate uncertainty in aspects as diverse as genetics, finance, and physics.

Video Lectures

1. Our Random World-Probability Defined – 33 min
   Introduction to probability and its significance across various fields.
2. The Nature of Randomness – 31 min
   Understanding randomness and its predictability at larger scales.
3. Expected Value-You Can Bet on It – 31 min
   How expected value aids decision-making in betting and investments.
4. Random Thoughts on Random Walks – 31 min
   Explore random walks and their relevance in diverse scenarios.
5. Probability Phenomena of Physics – 31 min
   The role of probability in quantum mechanics and weather predictions.
6. Probability Is in Our Genes – 29 min
   Using probability to model genetic traits and evolutionary processes.
7. Options and Our Financial Future – 31 min
   Characterizing risks in stock options through probability distributions.
8. Probability Where We Don’t Expect It – 31 min
   Discover unexpected applications of probability in various fields.
9. Probability Surprises – 31 min
   Discuss the birthday problem and Monty Hall’s paradox in detail.
10. Conundrums of Conditional Probability – 30 min
    Delve into the complexities of conditional probability.
11. Believe It or Not-Bayesian Probability – 30 min
    Understanding Bayesian probability and its implications for belief.
12. Probability Everywhere – 32 min
    Review the course topics and the power of the Bayesian approach.