Abstract
We have chosen the problem of the random walk in one dimension to introduce some concepts and techniques of the theory of probabilities. We use this problem to analyze the main features of binomial and Gaussian distributions, to define mean (expected) values and standard deviations, and to investigate the role of large numbers. The simplest versions of the random walk problem are already related to models of physical interest, suggested by the diffusion of particles in a viscous medium.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Salinas, S.R.A. (2001). Introduction to Statistical Methods. In: Introduction to Statistical Physics. Graduate Texts in Contemporary Physics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3508-6_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3508-6_1
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-2884-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3508-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive