arXiv subjects

Oscar Sheynin

Publications and source records attributed to Oscar Sheynin.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Theory of Probability and Statistics as Exemplified in Short Dictums

I am presenting a first-ever scientific collection of short sayings on probability and statistics expressed by most various men of science, many classics included, from antiquity to Kepler to our time. Quite understandably, the reader will find here no mathematical formulas and in some instances he will miss a worthy subject. Markov chains provide a good example: their inventor had not said anything about them suitable for my goal. Nevertheless, the scope of the collected dictums is amazingly broad which reflects both the discussions concerning the lack of a solid foundation of probability theory until the 1930s and the great extent of applications of probability and statistics. And I have also included two related and most important topics, the treatment of observations and randomness.

math.HO↗

arXiv2018

Theory of Probability. A Historical Essay

This book covers the history of probability up to Kolmogorov with essential additional coverage of statistics up to Fisher. Based on my work of ca. 50 years, it is the only suchlike book. Gorrochurn (2016) is similar but his study of events preceding Laplace is absolutely unsatisfactory. Hald (1990; 1998) are worthy indeed but the Continental direction of statistics (Russian and German statisticians) is omitted, it is impossible to find out what was contained in any particular memoir of Laplace and the explanation does not always explain the path from, say, Poisson to a modern interpretation of his results. Finally, the reader ought to master modern math. statistics. I included many barely known facts and conclusions, e. g., Gauss' justification of least squares (yes!), the merits of Bayes (again, yes!), the unforgivable mistake of Laplace, the work of Chebyshev and his students (merits and failures) etc., etc. The book covers an extremely wide field, and is targeted at the same readers as any other book on history of science. Mathematical treatment is not as difficult as it is for readers of Hald.

math.HO↗

arXiv2018

Theory of Probability. An Elementary Treatise against a Historical Background

A popular scientific contribution should not contradict any established facts and ought to be understandable. I complied with both these requirements and am offering a sufficiently full introduction to probability theory. Furthermore, I enlivened my text with much information about the history of probability and commentaries on the occurring notions which do not belong to that theory. Indeed, a student is not a container to be filled but a torch to be kindled. I hope therefore that my piece will essentially benefit beginners, be also methodically useful to advanced readers, and even attract some inquisitive people to probability.

math.HO↗