This textbook offers a beginner-friendly introduction to probability theory for undergraduates. It emphasizes intuitive explanations and examples, with minimal prerequisites. Key topics include discrete and continuous distributions, random variables, and conditional probabilities, making it accessible without extensive calculus knowledge.
Three series of lectures were conducted at the 32nd Probability Summer School in Saint-Flour from July 7–24, 2002, by Professors Pitman, Tsirelson, and Werner. The courses by Professors Tsirelson (“Scaling limit, noise, stability”) and Werner (“Random planar curves and Schramm-Loewner evolutions”) were published in a previous issue of Lecture Notes in Mathematics (volume 1840). This volume features Professor Pitman's course on “Combinatorial stochastic processes.” We extend our gratitude to the author for his contributions in Saint-Flour and for these notes. The school was attended by 76 participants, with 33 presenting short lectures, the lists of which are included at the end of the volume. Established in 1971, the Saint-Flour Probability Summer School has a rich history, with numerous prior volumes published in the Lecture Notes in Mathematics series, along with one in the Lecture Notes in Statistics series. The references for these volumes span from 1971 to 2003, highlighting the ongoing commitment to advancing the field of probability and statistics through education and collaboration.