The Little Purple Probability Book


Book Description

Fine-tune your numerical mindset with a quantitative review that serves as a tool for perceiving probability in a new way. Whether you’re a high school student, college student, or a test-prep candidate, this book’s wealth of explanations and insights makes it a perfect learning companion. Enjoy the benefits of your own short course in probability: •Be able to think conceptually by understanding how key problems “fit” within the main topics of probability, permutations, combinations, and enumerations. *Master basic probability using a simple “flowchart” to identify the correct formulas. *Understand when to “add” probabilities and when to “multiply” probabilities. *Be able to distinguish between events that are independent versus not independent and events that are mutually exclusive versus not mutually exclusive. *Grasp key differences between permutations and combinations and look for key words such as “arrangements” or “selections” to indicate the correct problem type. *Solve tricky permutation problems that involve repeated letters or numbers. *Approach probability problems with a newfound confidence and competency. This book is focused on honing those thinking skills that are essential for mastering basic probability. Such thinking skills make it much more likely that a person will be able to understand the “how” and “why” of problem solving, approach the subject in a conceptual way, and grasp those key principles that act as themes to bind related problems. These skills combine the science of math with the art of numbers. “To get started in probability theory, all you need are a few basic principles. Here they are, clear and uncluttered, in a short, simple book that comes as a welcome breath of fresh air.” —Dr. Ian Stewart, author of 17 Equations That Changed the World and the Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities




The Little Gold Grammar Book


Book Description

This book is based on a simple but powerful observation: Individuals who develop outstanding grammar skills do so primarily by mastering a limited number of the most important grammar rules, which they use over and over. What are these recurring rules? The answer to this question is the basis of this book. - from Introduction, p. 5.




The Little Red Writing Book Deluxe Edition


Book Description

For Writing and Grammar Aficionados from All Walks of Life This deluxe edition contains the complete contents of "The Little Red Writing Book" and "The Little Gold Grammar Book." Whereas writing is based on principles in which writing is deemed better or worse, more effective or less effective grammar is based on rules, in which writing is deemed right or wrong, correct or incorrect. With coverage of the most useful writing principles and the most commonly encountered rules of grammar, "The Little Red Writing Book Deluxe Edition" is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to master those skills that will make a good writer even better. Enjoy the benefits of your own self-paced writing course: Writing has four pillars structure, style, readability, and grammar and each pillar is like the single leg of a sturdy chair. *Structure relates to organization and deciding in which order to present your ideas. Learn how to choose the best writing structure to develop your ideas, how to break your writing topic into two to four parts, and how to write with a top-down approach. *Style describes how one writes, including how to use specific examples to support what is written. Learn how to make writing more simple, powerful, and vivid. Understand how to vary sentence beginnings, how to create a formal and informal tone, and how to keep writing gender neutral. *Readability focuses on presentation and how to make your document visually pleasing and easy to read. Learn how to make key words stand out, how to use headings and headlines to frame writing, and how to increase the use of white space to allow your document to breathe. *Grammar is about expressing language in a correct and acceptable form. Review the rules of grammar in terms of six common categories (subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, modification, parallelism, comparisons, and verb tenses), and use short exercises and problems to help integrate key concepts of grammar, diction, idioms, and style. *Also included are special sections on editing tips and punctuation, America English vs. British English, and traditional writing vs. digital writing. Author s bio: Brandon Royal is an award-winning writer whose educational authorship includes "The Little Red Writing Book, The Little Gold Grammar Book, The Little Green Math Book, The Little Blue Reasoning Book, " and "Reasoning with Numbers." During his tenure working in Hong Kong for US-based Kaplan Educational Centers a Washington Post subsidiary and the largest test-preparation organization in the world Brandon honed his theories of teaching and education and developed a set of key learning principles to help define the basics of writing, grammar, math, and reasoning. A Canadian by birth and graduate of the University of Chicago s Booth School of Business, his interest in writing began after completing writing courses at Harvard University. Since then he has authored a dozen books and reviews of his books have appeared in "Time Asia" magazine, "Publishers Weekly, Library Journal of America, Midwest Book Review, The Asian Review of Books, Choice Reviews Online, Asia Times Online, " and About.com. Brandon is a five-time winner of the International Book Awards, a five-time gold medalist at the President s Book Awards, as well as a winner of the Global eBook Awards, the USA Book News Best Book Awards, and recipient of the 2011 Educational Book of the Year award as presented by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta. Appropriate for its audience of ambitious students and professionals those who have plenty of brains, but need a little brush-up with the pen. --Publishers Weekly Online Reviews




The Little Blue Reasoning Book


Book Description

The Little Blue Reasoning Book helps readers build essential critical thinking, creative thinking, and decision-making skills and is suitable for the everyday student, test-prep candidate, or working professional in need of a refresher course. Interwoven within the book's five chapters -Perception & Mindset, Decision Making, Creative Thinking, Analyzing Arguments, and Mastering Logic - are 50 reasoning tips that summarize the common themes behind classic reasoning problems and situations. Appendixes contain summaries of fallacious reasoning, analogies, trade-offs, and a review of critical reading.




Basic Probability Theory


Book Description

This introduction to more advanced courses in probability and real analysis emphasizes the probabilistic way of thinking, rather than measure-theoretic concepts. Geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students, its sole prerequisite is calculus. Taking statistics as its major field of application, the text opens with a review of basic concepts, advancing to surveys of random variables, the properties of expectation, conditional probability and expectation, and characteristic functions. Subsequent topics include infinite sequences of random variables, Markov chains, and an introduction to statistics. Complete solutions to some of the problems appear at the end of the book.




The Map Maker


Book Description

The Map Maker is the story of a young adventurer who travels to Paradise Island with the aid of a magical map. Here, he begins his own “knowledge quest” to better understand why people see the world just the way they do. Using simple prose, this illustrated short story introduces and explores the meaning behind the phrase “the subjectivity of truth and the relativity of reality.” Target Audience: This story is ideally suited to high school or college students studying English literature or philosophy and lends itself to classroom or group discussion. It is a think piece that explores the topic of human perspective and shows the folly in believing that we can see the world in an objective manner. “The Map Maker is a short story as playful as it is poignant. The marriage of whimsical images and thought-provoking text creates a unique tapestry: one that weaves storytelling and philosophy with literary verve. Royal challenges us to think about the key role that perspective plays in our lives. He also shows how literature, acting as both an art form and a pragmatic tool, can help us gain critical insights.” —Rachel Metalin, B.A. M.A., English Instructor, Upper Canada College (UCC), Toronto, Canada




Paradise Island


Book Description

Presented as a light philosophical commentary on living life on the wild side, PLEASURE ISLAND is a fable about the difficulty of keeping our dreams alive: even in paradise it's never easy. When our young narrator is handed down the Map Maker's legendary travel journal, he learns of the Map Maker's seminal journey to Pleasure Island, the wonderment and bewilderment, and of his struggle to keep paradise found from becoming paradise lost. The story reveals the secret behind the Map Maker's beautiful, evocative maps, and the reason he refused to travel in his later years, deciding instead to live vicariously through his own map creations. "A delectable dish of human foible, served with parsnips baked in irony oil, all topped with a sprinkling of satire-roasted fennel seeds." - Justin Hurwitz, Editor, The Harvard Lampoon




Ace the GMAT


Book Description

ACE THE GMAT is based on a simple but powerful observation: Test-takers who score high on the GMAT exam do so primarily by understanding how to solve a finite number of the most important, recurring problems that appear on the GMAT. What are these important, recurring problems? The answer to this question is the basis of this book. This manual provides in-depth analysis of over 200 all-star problems that are key to mastering the seven major GMAT problem types including Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency, Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Analytical Writing, and Integrated Reasoning. Apart from providing readers with answers and full explanations, a special feature of this book is that each problem is categorized by type (“classification”), rated by difficulty level (“chili rating”), and supplemented with a problem-solving strategy (“snapshot”). “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Whether you’re a candidate already enrolled in a test-prep course or are undertaking self-study, this guidebook will serve as a rigorous skill-building study guide to help you conquer the math, verbal, analytical writing, and integrated reasoning sections of the exam. Studying for the math and verbal sections of the GMAT exam requires some 100 hours of study time. This book’s content is conveniently divided into topics, which require two to three hours of study time per day. Total study time will vary between 80 to 120 hours for the entire 40 days. Solving (Official exam instructions for Problem Solving, Strategies and approaches, Review of basic math, Multiple-choice problems, Answers and explanations); Chapter 3 – Data Sufficiency (Official exam instructions for Data Sufficiency, Strategies and approaches, How are answers chosen in Data Sufficiency? How do the big seven numbers work? Multiple-choice problems, Answers and explanations); Chapter 4 – Sentence Correction (Official exam instructions for Sentence Correction, Strategies and approaches, Review of Sentence Correction, Multiple-choice problems, Answers and explanations); Chapter 5 – Critical Reasoning (Official exam instructions for Critical Reasoning, Strategies and approaches, Review of Critical Reasoning, Multiple-choice problems, Answers and explanations); Chapter 6 – Reading Comprehension (Official exam instructions for Reading Comprehension, Strategies and approaches, Review of Reading Comprehension, Answers and explanations); Chapter 7 – Analytical Writing Workshop (Official exam instructions for the Analytical Writing Assessment, Strategies and approaches, Review of Analytical Writing, Essay exercises, Outlines and proposed solutions); Chapter 8 – Integrated Reasoning Workshop (Official exam instructions for Integrated Reasoning, Strategies and approaches; Review of Integrated Reasoning with exercises, Answers and explanations); Appendix I – GMAT and MBA Informational Websites (Registering for the GMAT exam; MBA fairs & forums; MBA social networks; GMAT courses; Other GMAT & MBA websites; Information on business school rankings); Appendix II – Contact Information for the World’s Leading Business Schools (U.S. business schools; Canadian business schools; European business schools; Australian business schools; Asia-Pacific business schools; Latin and South American business schools; South African business schools); Quiz – Answers; On a Personal Note; Praise for Ace the GMAT. “Finally, a book that helps you master those learning skills that are critical to success on the GMAT.” —Linda B. Meehan, former Assistant Dean & Executive Director of Admissions, Columbia Business School




Getting Into Business School


Book Description

Secrets to Getting into Business School helps candidates develop the skills and mindset needed to prepare a first-class business school application. This manual contains 60 sample application essays covering all ten major types of MBA essays as well as exhibits highlighting relevant application documents: sample letters of recommendation with critiques; an interview evaluation form complete with interviewer's comments; an interview thank-you note; sample employment records and professionally formatted resumes; and extracurricular presentations showing how candidates present their awards and recognition, community service, collegiate activities, and hobbies and interests.




Ace the GMAT Math


Book Description

Ace the GMAT Math will help readers develop the skills and mindset needed to score high on the quantitative section of the GMAT exam. This book contains the excerpted math chapters on Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency as taken from the parent ebook/paperback titled Ace the GMAT: Master the GMAT in 40 Days. “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Whether you’re a candidate already enrolled in a test-prep course or are undertaking self-study, this guidebook will serve as a rigorous skill-building study guide to help you conquer the quantitative section of the GMAT exam. Studying for the math section of the GMAT exam requires some 50 hours of study time. This book’s content is conveniently divided into topics, which require two to three hours of study time per day. Total study time will vary between 40 to 60 hours for the entire 20 days. “This book enabled me to increase my score from 650 to 730. I believe its unique way of categorizing each type of question, giving insightful tips to master these problems, as well as the detailed analysis for each set of problems were key factors in my cracking the test. Moreover, I found problems that I did not find anywhere else and which were critical on the D-day when answering a few extra questions right made the difference between a good score and an excellent one.” —Cédric Gouliardon, Telecom Specialist; INSEAD graduate