An Intuitive Introduction to Probability

An Intuitive Introduction to Probability

Instructor: Karl Schmedders

90,378 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,884 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,884 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

32 assignments

Taught in English

93%

Most learners liked this course

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 5 modules in this course

This course will provide you with a basic, intuitive and practical introduction into Probability Theory. You will be able to learn how to apply Probability Theory in different scenarios and you will earn a "toolbox" of methods to deal with uncertainty in your daily life.

The course is split in 5 modules. In each module you will first have an easy introduction into the topic, which will serve as a basis to further develop your knowledge about the topic and acquire the "tools" to deal with uncertainty. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to complete 5 exercise sessions to reflect about the content learned in each module and start applying your earned knowledge right away. The topics covered are: "Probability", "Conditional Probability", "Applications", "Random Variables", and "Normal Distribution". You will see how the modules are taught in a lively way, focusing on having an entertaining and useful learning experience! We are looking forward to see you online!

In this module we will learn about probabilities and perform our first calculations using probability formulas. We want to get comfortable with the idea that probabilities describe the chance of uncertain events occurring.

What's included

7 videos1 reading7 assignments

7 videosTotal 63 minutes

Welcome6 minutes
Introduction6 minutes
Definition and Rules13 minutes
A First Look at Statistical Independence10 minutes
Subjective Probabilities10 minutes
Empirical Probabilities: Benford's Law11 minutes
Exercise7 minutes

1 readingTotal 120 minutes

Script: Part 1120 minutes

7 assignmentsTotal 210 minutes

Introductory Quiz30 minutes
1.130 minutes
1.230 minutes
1.330 minutes
1.430 minutes
1.530 minutes
1.630 minutes

The arrival of new information may lead us to alter our probabilistic assessments of uncertain events. In this module, we will learn how the concept of "conditional" probabilities allows us to make these changes correctly. Script of the course can be found here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/introductiontoprobability/resources/qxi9W

What's included

6 videos1 reading6 assignments

We will discuss some fascinating every-day applications of probability. In addition to entertaining examples, we will also review very serious applications from finance and law.

What's included

6 videos6 assignments

In this module we move beyond probabilities and learn about important summary measures such as expected values, variances, and standard deviations. We also learn about the most popular discrete probability distribution, the binomial distribution.

What's included

8 videos1 reading8 assignments

8 videosTotal 80 minutes

Discrete Random Variables11 minutes
Expected Value13 minutes
Measures of Dispersion9 minutes
Application: Financial Model6 minutes
Binomial Distribution18 minutes
Application: Airline Overbooking12 minutes
Exercise 16 minutes
Exercise 26 minutes

1 readingTotal 120 minutes

Script: Part 4120 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 240 minutes

4.130 minutes
4.230 minutes
4.330 minutes
4.430 minutes
4.530 minutes
4.630 minutes
4.730 minutes
4.830 minutes

We want to get comfortable with the normal distribution. We will discuss what the famous bell curve really represents. And we will learn how easy it is to calculate normal probabilities.

What's included

6 videos1 reading5 assignments

6 videosTotal 57 minutes

Continuous Random Variables15 minutes
Normal Distribution10 minutes
Calculating Normal Probabilities9 minutes
Calculations with the Normal Distribution8 minutes
Application of the Normal Distribution8 minutes
Exercise8 minutes

1 readingTotal 120 minutes

Script: Part 5120 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 150 minutes

5.130 minutes
5.230 minutes
5.330 minutes
5.430 minutes
5.530 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(620 ratings)

Karl Schmedders

University of Zurich

1 Course90,378 learners

Offered by

University of Zurich

Explore more from Probability and Statistics

EDUCBA
Probability and Statistics for Decision Making
Course
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Foundations of Probability and Random Variables
Course
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Random Processes
Course
Category: Preview
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Probability and Statistics
Course
Status: Free Trial

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
81.48%
4 stars
15.27%
3 stars
2.06%
2 stars
0.47%
1 star
0.68%

Showing 3 of 1884

Reviewed on Apr 26, 2022

Wow. What an amazing journey. Engaging, exciting, and as far from broring as it is possible while providing actual knowledge. Perfect balance. The only downside of this course is that is it too short.

Reviewed on Jun 16, 2017

Amazing course to understand the nature of probability and its applications. Lecture delivery by Karl is fabulous and the efforts put in by Jose is highly appreciable. Hoping for an advance course.

Reviewed on May 16, 2019

Excellent way of teaching. Clear Explanation of the topics with to the point discussion. Diverse applications of probability covered in one course. Definitely helpful in my office / research work.

View more reviews

Unlock access to 10,000+ courses with a subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 4,700 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.