This book blends theory and applications, reinforcing concepts with practical real-world examples that illustrate the importance of probability to those who will use it in their subsequent courses and careers. The author emphasizes the study of probability distributions that characterize random variables, because this knowledge is essential in performing parametric statistical analysis. Explanations include the "why" as well as the "how" of probability distributions for random variables to help engage readers and further promote their understanding. In addition, the text includes a self-contained chapter on finite Markov chains, which introduces the basic aspects of Markov chains and illustrates their usefulness with several real examples.