The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader to the basic theory of signal detection and estimation. It is assumed that the reader has a working knowledge of applied probabil­ ity and random processes such as that taught in a typical first-semester graduate engineering course on these subjects. This material is covered, for example, in the book by Wong (1983) in this series. More advanced concepts in these areas are introduced where needed, primarily in Chapters VI and VII, where continuous-time problems are treated. This book is adapted from a one-semester, second-tier graduate course taught at the University of Illinois. However, this material can also be used for a shorter or first-tier course by restricting coverage to Chapters I through V, which for the most part can be read with a background of only the basics of applied probability, including random vectors and conditional expectations. Sufficient background for the latter option is given for exam pIe in the book by Thomas (1986), also in this series.