30-Second Numbers: The 50 Key Topics for Understanding Numbers and How We Use Them(30 Second)

The successful 30-Second series tackles numbers, with experts on maths and data demystifying the essential numerical topics. We know that we use numbers pretty often, some of us confidently, others reluctantly. But are we aware of just how essential they are to almost every decision we make? Counting and measuring when we're shopping, travelling, studying or playing are just the beginning; the applications of numbers are endless, from assessing variables and analysing data to the calculations and predictions of advanced artificial intelligence. 30-Second Numbers explores number categories, the science of measuring, how guesstimates work, and the visualisation of numbers, taking you behind the digits into the world of statistics, probability, risk and ratios. Numbers are our way of imposing order on the world, and each of the 50 topics here uses just 300 words and one picture to give you a sense of control, helping you to understand trends in statistical data, how algorithms are used and the methods involved in machine learning. With this book, numbers need never be daunting again.

Table of Contents:
Introduction   Fundamental Numbers GLOSSARY Real Numbers Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers Prime Numbers Complex Numbers Discrete Numbers Continuous Numbers Zero & Negative Numbers Powers & Roots Profile: Gerolamo Cardano   Statistical Distributions GLOSSARY Statistics Population & Samples Sampling Independent & Dependent Variables Statistical Distributions Normal Distribution Profile: Abraham de Moivre Random Variables   Statistical Tests GLOSSARY Statistical Tests Mean Standard Deviation Measurement Error p-Values Profile: Egon Pearson Confidence Interval Bootstrapping Standard Error Linear Regression & Correlation   Probability and Risk GLOSSARY Probability Profile: Pierre de Fermat Prediction Hypothesis Testing Bayesian Probability Profile: Thomas Bayes Conditional Probability Likelihood Ratios Absolute Risk Relative Risk Numerical Bias   Using Numbers GLOSSARY Numerical Bases Logarithms Percentages Fractions Algorithms False Positives & False Negatives Permutations & Combinations Profile: Fibonacci   Visualizing Numbers GLOSSARY Big Data Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data Visualization Using Shape & Color Comparing Numbers Trends Profile: Sir Arthur Lyon Bowley Ranges Quartiles   Appendices Further Resources Notes on Contributors Index Acknowledgments  

About the Author :
Professor Niamh Nic Daeid is one of the UK's leading researchers in forensic science, is Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Dundee. Previously based at the University of Strathclyde for two decades, she was the first woman to earn a personal chair in the Department of Chemistry in Strathclyde's 215-year history. Christian Cole is a data scientist and principal investigator at the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee, Scotland, where he works on biological problems with large data sets.