MATH 250 A02(04735), Winter 2006

Introduction to Probability and Statistics I

Catalog Description:
Organization of data, central tendency and dispersion, probability, concept of random variables, binomial and normal probability distributions. No credit for 250 if already credit for 450A, PSY 120, PSY 121, PSY 221, ISE 304, or ISE 305.
Prerequisites:
MATH 113 or Placement level 2 or higher.
Instructor:
Martin J. Mohlenkamp, mohlenka@ohio.edu, (740)593-1283, 554 Morton Hall.
Office hours: Monday 10-11am, Tuesday 10-11am, Thursday 10-11am and 5-6pm, and Friday 10-11am.
Web page:
http://www.ohiouniversityfaculty.com/mohlenka/20062/250.
Class hours/ location:
MTuThF 9:10-10am in 223 Morton Hall.
Text:
Statistics--Principles and Methods, fourth edition, by Richard A. Johnson, and Gouri K. Bhattacharyya; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.
Calculator:
A scientific calculator is required. It does not need to be able to graph.
Homework:
Several problems from each section of the book are assigned. These problems will not be collected or graded, but you will need to do them in order to learn.
Good Problems:
Six Good Problems are assigned, and will be collected and graded. These are homework problems that will be graded half on content and half on presentation. The idea is to practice writing mathematics regularly but in small pieces.
Tests:
There will be four mid-term tests, in class. A calculator is needed.
Final Exam:
The final exam is on Tuesday 14 March at 8:00am in our regular classroom. A calculator is needed.
Grade:
Each Good Problem is worth 1 unit, each test is worth 2 units, and the final is worth 4 units. Your lowest 2 units will be dropped and then your average is computed and a 90% guarantees you at least an A-, 80% a B-, 70% a C-, and 60% a D-.
Missed or Late work:
Only reasons given in advance of a missed test will be considered; otherwise a score of 0 will be given. Late Good Problems are penalized 5% for each 24 hour period or part thereof, excluding weekends and holidays. You can resubmit good problems to improve your score, but the late penalty will apply.
Attendance:
Attendance is assumed but is not counted in your grade. It is your responsibility to find out any announcements made in class.
Academic Dishonesty:
You are strongly encouraged to work together on the homework. You can work together on the Good Problems, but you must acknowledge in writing what help you received and from whom. The tests and final exam must be your own work, and without the aid of notes, etc. Dishonesty will result in a zero on that work, and possible failure in the class and a report to the university judiciaries.
Special Needs:
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
Learning Resources:
  • Your classmates are your best resource. Use them!
  • The Academic Advancement Center's Math Center http://www.ohiou.edu/aac/math has drop-in help, tutors, online help, and a telephone hotline.
  • A collection of online resources http://www.statsci.org/teaching.html
  • An (advanced) online textbook http://www.statsoftinc.com/textbook/stathome.html
  • Schedule

    The Good Problems and Tests are fixed, but we may not cover sections on exactly the days shown.
    Week Date Section Materials/ Homework (ungraded) Good Problem/ Test
    1 January 3 Introduction
    January 5 Chapter 1 1.1-1.17odd
    January 6 2:1,2:2,2:3 2.1-19odd,2.23,2.25 Good Problem 1: Autobiography, using Layout
    2 January 9 2:4 2.29-51odd,2.50
    January 10 2:5 2.55-87odd,2.78
    January 12 2:7,2:8 2.95-115odd
    January 13 4:1,4:2 4.1-5,4.7-13odd,4.14 Good Problem 2: #2.108, using Flow
    3 January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no class
    January 17 4:3 4.15-31odd (drop deadline)
    January 19 Review
    January 20 study guide Test 1 on 1,2:1-5,4:1-3
    4 January 23 4:4 4.35-37,4.39-51odd
    January 24 4:5 4.55-61odd,4.65-69odd,4.73-77odd,4.81
    January 26 4:6 4.83-101odd
    January 27 4:7 4.103-121odd,4.133-139odd Good Problem 3: #4.50, using Logic
    5 January 30 Total Probability 4.63,4.71,4.79; handout
    January 31 Bayes' Rule handout
    February 2 Review
    February 3 study guide Test 2 on 4:1-7, Total Probability, Bayes' Rule
    6 February 6 5:1,5:2 5.1-7odd (drop deadline with WP/WF)
    February 7 5:3 5.9-27odd
    February 9 5:4 5.29-43odd
    February 10 5:5 5.45-57odd Good Problem 4: #5.24, using Intros
    7 February 13 5:6 5.59-79odd
    February 14 5.8 5.89,5.93-109odd,5.113-133odd,5.136,5.137
    February 16 Review
    February 17 study guide Test 3 on Total Probability, Bayes' Rule, 5:1-6, 5:8
    8 February 20 6:1,6:2 6.1-7,6.9,6.11
    February 21 6:3 6.13-23odd
    February 23 6:4 6.25-37odd
    February 24 6:5,6:8 6.39-75odd Good Problem 5: #6.24 with a graph for each part, using Graphs
    9 February 27 7:1,7:2 7.1-7odd
    February 28
    March 2 Review
    March 3 study guide Test 4 on 6:1-5, 6:8, 7:1, 7:2
    10 March 6 7:3 7.9-25odd,7.29
    March 7 7:4 7.31
    March 9 7:5 7.35-45odd
    March 10 Review Good Problem 6: #7.18, using Symbols
    11 March 14 study guide Final Exam 8:00-10:00am Tuesday, in our classroom

    Martin J. Mohlenkamp
    Last modified: Fri Sep 3 13:54:11 EDT 2010