Math 310 Syllabus
Course:Applied Probability and Mathematical
Statistics
Term: Spring 2009
Time: Reader
CRN: TBD
Instructor: Dr. Ken Monks
Office: STT163A
Phone: (570) 941-6101
Email: monks@scranton.edu
Office Hours: by appt.
Required Textbooks:
Ross, A First Course in Probability, Prentice-Hall, 6th
edition, ISBN:0-13-033851-6
Tamhane and Dunlop, Statistics and Data Analysis, from
Elementary to Intermediate, Prentice-Hall,ISBN-10:
0137444265
Course Prerequisites: Math 221 (Calculus
II)
Course Objective: To provide the student with both an
understanding of the major topics of probability theory and statistics:
random variables, distribution functions, multivariable distributions,
sampling theory, estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing,
linear models and analysis of variance. This will be accomplished by
covering the topics corresponding sections of the textbooks along with
any supplementary material provided by the instructor. Students
should strive to obtain a mastery of the subject matter by 1)
developing both the technical skill necessary to solve problems and 2)
demonstrate a deeper understanding of the underlying theory by learning
and writing proofs. The assignments and presentations will
attempt to ascertain if each of these objectives have been
met.
Attendance Policy: This is a reader course but we will
have prescribed meeting times. Should you miss one of our scheduled
meetings for any reason your grade for that session will be F (see
grading policy below).
Email and the Web: All students in this course are
required to have a university email account and are expected to check
their email frequently for announcements and other information I may
send to you. I will use email and the internet quite extensively in the
course.If you prefer to check your home email
instead of your university email you can forward your university email
to you home account by following these instructions. Each
student is also expected to be able to access any information that I
post on the world wide web which is related to this course. You may
access this information from the mathematics department computer lab in
STT161. Contact the Help Desk in the computer center if you need
assistance.
Homework: I will assign readings and problem sets
to you at our meetings. You will be expected to read the material, work the assigned
problems, and present your both the theory and solutions at our meetings orally in
person (blackboard or whiteboard use, overheads, PowerPoint etc. is allowed as well).
Late Assignments: Don't even think about it. I have
yet to accept one and don't want to spoil my record. You will
receive an F for each late assignment. Assignments must be presented, at
our scheduled meetings, on the day they are due.
Missed assignments: Homework missed for any reason (even
good ones) will be given an F grade.
Grading: At most of our meetings you will be
required to make a presentation about the current reading assignment and homework
solutions. I will grade each of these presentations according to the following
scale:
| Grade awarded |
Awarded if: |
| A |
Your presentation and understanding are excellent. |
| B |
Your presentation and understanding are good. |
| C |
Your presentation and understanding are normal. |
| D |
Your presentation and understanding are poor. |
| F |
You presentation or understanding are inadequate. |
I will also ask you questions during your presentations as in an oral exam to test
your understanding of all material covered in the course up to that point (cumulative).
Thus your presentations will constitute oral exams that will determine your course
grade.
At the end of the term I will compute your grade by averaging the quality point
equivalents of your letter grades on all presentations in accordance with the
conversion: A=4; A-=3.67; B+=3.33; B=3.0; B-=2.67; C+=2.33; C=2.0; C-=1.67; D+=1.33;
D=1.0, and F=0.0. This average value will then be converted back to the a letter
grade by the same conversion by first rounding it to the nearest value in the
conversion table. In particular, you will need an average of at least 0.5 quality
points to pass the course.
Remember that the best way to learn mathematics by doing it
yourself.
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand
- Chinese Proverb
Schedule: As this is a reader course I will discuss scheduling with
you individually.
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