xi numerical root-finding and minimization newton-like methods quasi-newton methods normal approximation method nonlinear least squares constrained minimization via penalty functions probability and statistics random experiments and probability spaces random variables and probability distributions expectation joint distributions conditioning and independence conditional probability independence expectation and covariance conditional density and conditional expectation functions of random variables multivariate normal distribution convergence of random variables law of large numbers and central limit theorem markov chains statistics estimation method of moments maximum likelihood method confidence intervals hypothesis testing python primer getting started python objects types and operators functions and methods modules flow control iteration classes files numpy creating and shaping arrays slicing array operations random numbers matplotlib creating basic plot