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This classic, calculus-based introduction to the theory and application of statistics provides an unusually comprehensive depth and breadth of coverage and reflects the latest in statistical thinking and current practices. New to this edition is the addition of an applications section at the end of each chapter that deals with the theory presented. Further emphasis has been placed on the use of computers in performing statistical calculations. Topics covered include probability distributions and densities, random variables, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation, variance, and more. An excellent reference work for professional statisticians in a variety of fields.

Average Customer Rating:

A solid text.

Customer Rating:

Contrary to what many of the other reviewers think, I found this book to be very readable. I think that many textbooks a far too wordy. When one example is sufficient to clarify a concept more examples only serve to clutter the exposition. In that respect this book is excellent. Some of my classmates have complained that the book does not give an adequate explanation as to how one should go about setting up the region for an iterated integral involving a multivariate probability distribution. I quickly noticed that everything that was supposedly lacking is in fact covered in just about any multivariable calculus textbook. This is a book for persons with good mathematical aptitude. I'd say that probability and mathematical statistics as a whole is for people with good mathematical aptitude. If you white-knuckled your way through calculus 2 then you will struggle with this book, but that is not the author's fault. Having done well in linear algebra is a good sign that you have the capacity to learn from this book. I did not give the book five stars because I felt that some of the answers for the exercises are not particularly illuminating.

Avoid: Really

Customer Rating:

I have the 6th edition. I have used Probability and Statistics books from Ross, Hogg, Mendenhall, and Marx. I say this is the worst one because it has very little explanation and examples, but many unsolved exercises. Also, it is hard to follow. Here is a sentence and you be the judge: "The exponential distribution applies not only to the occurrence of the first success in a Poisson process, which is what we call a situation like that described in Exercise 5.48, by the virtue of condition (iii) (see Exercise 6.16), it applies also to the waiting times between successes." So, if you don't mind jumping around in the book, maybe you would not mind it as much. I am not kidding; you have to go back and forth all the time! I was just reading it, put it down, and logged in here to write this. I like Mendenhall's "Mathematical Statistics with Applications" for quick and clear explanations (best as 1st book) Ross' "First Course in Probability" for deeper understanding. Hogg's "Probability and Statistical Inference" is my favorite. Marx' Mathematical Statistics is ok (not many examples), but far better than this book.

Wow. What a terrible book...

Customer Rating:

Yeah, I had to buy this book for an undergrad stat. class, as I'm sure most everyone did. And yeah, I agree with most of the other reviews. This is an atrocious book for learning. After the first week I threw it on the shelf and just hit the Internet. I'm really good with numbers, especially (come to find out) with statistics. I discourage you from using this book. There a book called Forgotten Statistics by Doug Downing and Jeff Clarke that you should check out. It's more of an aperitif and not nearly rigorous enough, but it does a great job of preparing you for the big time. There also a Forgotten Algebra and a Forgotten Calculus that any student should check out. I still use all three to this day for general review. Not to reference though. Not rigorous enough.

Where are the answers?

Customer Rating:

Overall this is a good textbook, with exceptionally great explanations. This text does assume the reader has made it through calculus III, but then again, hence the name "mathematical statistics" rather than introductory statistics. If you've never had any type of statistics in the past, you'll find this text particularly difficult to understand. However, if you've had basic statistics and the mathematical requirements, you'll find this textbook has clear and concise explanations and lots of examples. The problem however with this text, is that it simply doesn't have a solutions manual. To make matters worse, a lot of the time, the answers to problems aren't in the back of the book. Instead of showing the answer to every odd or even problem, it sometimes skips 5, 6, or even 7 problems. Once you think it can't get even worse, the answers that are in the back sometimes stem from previous problems that aren't. If you don't get the first problem right (and there is no way to check if you do), you'll never get the second problem right. You're basically left with very few answers to your homework problems, and essentially it can be very difficult to know if you're really understanding the material. So yes, although this book is written clearly and concisely, it fails to deliver answers... which is the major downfall of this textbook.

For Advanced Undergrads and Beginning Grad Students	Customer Rating:
If you are taking a math stat class on the level of Casella and Berger this is a GREAT text to use for background (I speak from experience). To get the most out of this book, the level of math needed is a full sequence of undergrad calculus (3 or 4 semesters depending on your university).