Everything is predictable : how Bayes' remarkable theorem explains the world
Chivers, Tom (Science writer)2024
Books
Thomas Bayes was an eighteenth-century Presbyterian minister and amateur mathematician whose obscure life belied the profound impact of his work. Like most research into probability at the time, his theorem was mainly seen as relevant to games of chance, like dice and cards. But its implications soon became clear, affecting fields as diverse as medicine, law and artificial intelligence. Bayes' theorem helps explain why highly accurate screening tests can lead to false positives, causing unnecessary anxiety for patients. A failure to account for it in court has put innocent people in jail. But its influence goes far beyond practical applications. Fusing biography, razor-sharp science communication and intellectual history, 'Everything Is Predictable' is a captivating tour of Bayes' theorem and its impact on modern life.
Main title:
Author:
Chivers, Tom (Science writer), author
Imprint:
London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2024.
Collation:
xxvii, 303 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9781399604031 (hbk. :)
Dewey class:
519.542092519.542B BAY519.542 CHIV519.542092 CHI
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
2679246