MA 385-01, Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Spring 2008

Course Description and Goals

This course is a calculus-based introduction to probability with special emphasis on the interplay between probability and statistics. Topics include

• descriptive statistics
• probability spaces
• discrete distributions (including the binomial, geometric, hypergeometric, and Poisson)
• continuous distributions (including the uniform, exponential, and normal)
• joint distributions
• mean, variance, and general expected value
• independence and correlation
• the law of large numbers
• the central limit theorem.

Goals of the course include

• A basic understanding of the special language, notation, and point of view of probability.
• A basic understanding of the interplay between probability and inferential statistics.
• The ability to solve standard computational problems in probability.
• The ability to recognize special models, including Bernoulli trials, finite sampling models, and the Poisson model
• An intuitive understanding the two fundamental theorems of probability: he law of large numbers and the central limit theorem
• An improve ability to read, write, speak, and think in mathematical terms.

This course also prepares students for further study, including MA 487, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and MA 585, Probability.

Prerequisites and Restrictions

• MA 120, Calculus with Applications or
• MA 172, Calculus B, and
• One MA course at the 200-level or above

Credit

• 3 Semester Hours

Course Materials

• Text: An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics, 4th edition, by Larsen and Marx, published by Prentice Hall.
• Class website: http://www.math.uah.edu/siegrist/teaching/2008Spring/MA385/index.html
• Web-based course material: Virtual Laboratories in Probability and Statistics: http://www.math.uah.edu/stat/

Text syllabus

• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Chapter 2. Probability
• Chapter 3. Random Variables

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Kyle Siegrist
• Office: 258K Shelby Center
• Voice: 824-6486
• Fax: 824-6173
• E-mail: siegrist@math.uah.edu

Class Schedule

• Tuesday, Thursday 3:55 - 5:15
• 103 Shelby Center

Office Hours

• Monday, 10:15 - 11:15
• Tuesday, 2:15 - 3:45
• Wednesday, 10:15 - 11:15
• Thursday, 2:15 - 3:45
• Friday, 10:15 - 11:15

Grade Determination

• Quizzes: 1/6
• Three Class Tests: 1/2
• Final Exam: 1/3

Test Schedule

• Test 1: Thursday, February 7
• Test 2: Thursday, March 11
• Test 3: Thursday, April 10
• Final Exam: Tuesday, April 29, 3:00 - 5:30

Grading Scale (%)

1. 90-100
2. 80-89
3. 70-79
4. 60-69
6. 0-59

Policies

• No make-up tests or quizzes will be given except for documented cases of illness or emergency.
• Consult the Student Handbook for information about the grievance procedure, accommodations for students with disabilities, or academic misconduct.

Quizzes and Tests

Note: The quizzes and tests are written in the Mathematics Markup Language (MathML). You will need Mozilla Firefox (version 2.0 or later), with the MathML fonts installed, to properly view the quizzes and tests.

Quizzes

1. Quiz 1
2. Quiz 2
3. Quiz 3
4. Quiz 4
5. Quiz 5
6. Quiz 6
7. Quiz 7
8. Quiz 8
9. Quiz 9
10. Quiz 10
11. Quiz 11
12. Quiz 12
13. Quiz 13
14. Quiz 14
15. Quiz 15

Tests

1. Test 1
2. Test 2
3. Test 3

Final Exam

1. Practice Problems

Assignments

Week 1

• Tuesday, January 8. Read Chapter 1.
• Thursday, January 10. Read Section 2.1 and 2.2. In Section 2.2, work problems 3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35.

Week 2

• Tuesday, January 15. Continue with the assignment in Section 2.2.
• Thursday, January 17. Read Section 2.3 and work problems 2-12, 14-17.

Week 3

• Tuesday, January 22. Read Section 2.4. Work problems 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 23.
• Thursday, January 24. Continue with Section 2.4. Work problems 25, 26, 29, 33, 35, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53.

Week 4

• Tuesday, January 29. Read Section 2.5. Work problems 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, 27, 29.
• Wednesday, January 30. Makeup class. Continue with the assignment in Section 2.5.
• Thursday, January 31 Read Section 2.6. Work problems 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61

Week 5

• Tuesday, February 5. Study for Test 1 on Thursday, over Chapter 1, Chapter 2 sections 2.1-2.6
• Thursday, February 7. Continue with Section 2.6 (problems 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61). Read Section 2.7 and work problems 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23.

Week 6

• Tuesday, February 12. Continue with Sections 2.6 and 2.7.
• Thursday, February 14. Read Sections 3.1. Read the first part of Section 3.2 and work problems 1-17 odd, 16.

Week 7

• Tuesday, February 19. Read the second part of Section 3.2 and work problems 19-23 odd.
• Thursday, February 21. Read Section 3.3 and work problems 1-15 odd.

Week 8

• Tuesday, February 26. Read Section 3.4 and work problems 1-17 odd.
• Thursday, February 28. Read Section 3.5 and work problems 6-14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32

Week 9

• Tuesday, March 4. Continue with the assignment in Section 3.5 and the practice problems.
• Thursday, March 6. Study for Test 2 on Tuesday, over Sections 2.7 and 3.1-3.5.

Week 10

• Tuesday, March 11. Read Section 3.6 and work problems 2-5, 8, 10, 11, 13-17, 19, 20, 22, 24.
• Thursday, March 13. Read Section 3.7. Have a nice spring break.

Week 11, Spring Break

• Tuesday, March 18. No class
• Thursday, March 20. No class

Week 12

• Tuesday, March 27. Read Section 3.7. Work problems 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 16. 19, 21, 23
• Thursday, March 29. Work problems 27, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 49, 50.

Week 13

• Tuesday, April 1. Continue with Section 3.7
• Thursday, April 3. Study for Test 3 on Thursday, April 10 over Sections 3.6, 3.7.

Week 14

• Tuesday, April 8. Honors day, no class
• Thursday, April 10. Read Section 3.8 and work problems 1-6.

Week 15

• Tuesday, April 15. Read Section 3.3 and work problem 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15
• Thursday, April 17. Continue with the assignments in Sections 3.8, 3.9.

Week 16

• Tuesday, April 22. Study for the Final Exam on Tuesday, April 29, 3:00 - 5:30.