What happened when a gambler asked for help from a mathematician? The formal study of Probability. Infinite Series is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV ...

Majorisation is used to compare discrete distributions in terms of randomness or, equivalently, informativeness. Some properties of measures of randomness are discussed. The effect on degree of ...

Because of its importance, much scientific effort is devoted to understanding when a given process generates ‘good’ randomness. A process is represented by a device, or black box, producing bits (Fig.

Here’s a deceptively simple exercise: Come up with a random phone number. Seven digits in a sequence, chosen so that every digit is equally likely, and so that your choice of one digit doesn’t affect ...

Humans are not terribly good at accurately assessing probability and dealing with randomness. This may stem from these skills having little evolutionary value. We exhibit hindsight and confirmation ...

It’s great to see the enthusiastic reader response to our first Insights puzzle. The puzzle has a deeply counterintuitive solution and raises philosophical questions about randomness and information.