prob-package: Elementary Probability on Finite Sample Spaces
In prob: Elementary Probability on Finite Sample Spaces

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A framework for performing elementary probability calculations on finite sample spaces. It is built around the concept of a probability space, which is an object of outcomes and an object probs of probabilities associated with the outcomes.

There are two ways to represent a probability space in the prob package. The first is with a data frame that has a probs column. Entries of probs should be nonnegative and sum to one. The second way is with a list having two components: outcomes and probs. The component outcomes is a list containing elements of the most arbitrary sort; they can be data frames, vectors, more lists, whatever. The probs component is a vector (of the same length as outcomes), which associates to each element of outcomes a nonnegative number. As before, the only additional requirement is that the sum of probs be one.

There are functions in the prob package to address many topics in a standard course in elementary probability. In particular, there are methods for setting up sample spaces, counting tools, defining probability spaces, performing set algebra, calculating probability and conditional probability, tools for simulation and checking the law of large numbers, adding random variables, and finding marginal distributions. See vignette("prob") for details.

There are some functions included to set up some of the standard sample spaces usually encountered in an elementary probability course. Examples include tossing a coin, rolling a die, drawing from a 52 card deck, etc. If you know of topics that would be of general interest and could be incorporated in the prob package framework, I would be happy to hear about them. Comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

The prob package is a first step toward addressing probability in R, and has been written in the spirit of simplicity. The procedures work best to solve problems that are manageable in scope. Users that wish to investigate especially large or intricate problems are encouraged to modify and streamline the code to suit their individual needs.

Characteristic functions for the base probability distributions have been included. For details, type vignette("charfunc") at the command prompt.

Package:	prob
Version:	1.0-1
Date:	2018-08-27
Depends:	combinat, fAsianOptions
Suggests:	VGAM, reshape, MASS, hypergeo
LazyLoad:	no
License:	GPL version 3 or newer
URL:	http://prob.r-forge.r-project.org, http://gkerns.people.ysu.edu/