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I'm an academic in biology and I'm trying to improve my working knowledge of probability and probabilistic methods. I was recommended the Introduction to Probability textbook as an excellent introduction to the subject.

I am, however, finding it extremely hard to make progress with the exercises. I've been working through the exercises at the end of first chapter and it has taken me several weeks to get to the end. I usually spend a couple of hours on each question and invariably still end up with the incorrect answer.

I studied A-level mathematics and statistics so I feel confident with the algebra. I also understand the examples given in each chapter. It is just the problems at the end of chapter. I find them much harder than the corresponding examples on the same subject.

Can anyone offer any suggestions for my predicament?

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It would be great if you asked specifically about the particular problem you are having with the particular exercise. I suspect that you are on the verge of the breakthrough and need just a little push to suddenly understand everything. At least for me it is a usual experience when trying to understand some unknown field of science. – mpiktas Aug 3 '11 at 6:53

closed as not a real question by whuber♦ Aug 15 '11 at 17:32

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

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