If you want to learn more about this sort of thing there is an excellent textbook which teaches probability theory using randomised algorithms (eg uniform hashi

If you want to learn more about this sort of thing there is an excellent textbook which teaches probability theory using randomised algorithms (eg uniform hashing, load balancing, queueing theory etc). http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Computing-Randomized-Algorithms-Probabilistic/dp/0521835402/ http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Computing-Randomized-Algor... It's one of my favourite textbooks and it's full of powerful methods and intuitions for any programmer. NINJA EDIT PLUG: If anyone wants to work through that book I would be more than happy to help out and answer questions (jamie@scattered-thoughts.net). I wouldn't mind a refresher myself and I've always found that explaining things to other people helps clarify my own thinking.