NU Splash Biography

How large a group of people is necessary before it is more likely than not that two people share the same birthday? Only 23. On average, how many letters would a monkey typing at random have to type before it spelled out ABRACADABRA? $$26^{11}+26^4+26.$$ A molecule moving randomly in two dimensions has a 100% chance of eventually returning to its starting position. What's the likelihood that the same molecule eventually returns to its initial position in three dimensions? Only 34%! Probabilistic reasoning is central to the natural and physical sciences, but is generally passed over in the high school curriculum. This problem-oriented session will present an introduction to probability and its far-reaching applications.