Mathematics 111, Section 13
Probability & Statistics 
Syllabus

        The FINAL EXAM is Friday, May 5, 3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. (the official time for mathematics finals at this level), in JONES 204 (across from The Tilton Library).

        Solutions to problems in old final:

        #33: choose 2 red balls, 2 green balls, 1 white or blue: (3 nCr 2)*(5 nCr 2)*(10 nCr 1) = 300.

        #34: sigma = (b-a)/V12 (V = square root) = 36/V12, so sample mean has st. dev. sigma/V12 = 3.

        #35: conditional probability is probability of intersection (both even and sum is 6: (2,4) or (4,2)), over probability of condition (both even) = (2/36)/(1/4) = 2/9.

        #36: must use 2-SampTTest, unpooled, using T distribution. Calculator has df = 12.5 and p-value = 0.03494.

        #37,38: use 2-SampTTest, pooled, using T distribution. Calculator has df = 14, p-value = 0.6155, and Sxp = 0.2260.

        #39,40: have Poisson process, rate = 4 per hour.

        #39: X = # requests in 2 hours has Poisson distribution, mean 2x4 = 8; P(X <= 6) is Poissoncdf (8,6) = 0.3134.

        #40: X = # requests in first 20 minutes has Poisson distribution, mean (1/3)x4 = 4/3; want P(X = 0) = Poissoncdf (4/3,0) or Poissonpdf (4/3,0) = 0.2636.

        Homework due Wednesday, April 26: all required problems for sections 8.4, 8.5, plus problems 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 in Chapter 9 (from 9.1-9.2).

        Homework due Wednesday, April 19: all required problems for sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3.

        Homework due Wednesday, April 12: all required problems for sections 7.4, 7.5.

        Homework due Wednesday, April 5: all required problems for sections 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3.

        Notions of probability and statistics have become part of our culture, etc., etc. This course requires only high school algebra or equivalent, but that does not necessarily means it's an easy class. There are many applied problems, and while the mathematics is simple, many students find its implementation a challenge. You can expect to spend 5 to 6 hours per week on average working out homework and other sample problems.

        Your best strategy is to work problems for 1 or 2 hours after each lecture. It is a sad fact that mathematics, even simple mathematics like MATH 111, is not learned by cramming at the last minute. Steady and continuous problem working is much more effective. Unwary freshmen ignore this fact at their own peril.

        This course builds upon itself, especially in the second half, so after you skip enough classes you will have no idea what I'm talking about. Another fact which unwary freshmen ignore at their own peril.

        The textbook for the course is Statistics by McClave & Sincich, 10th edition. It is filled with homework and practice problems, great pictures, and ample explanations, in case you're foolish enough to skip classes.

        You will need a calculator. We cannot support all calculators, so the Mathematics Department chose the Texas Instruments TI-83, TI-83 plus and TI-84 because of their statistical capabilities and ease of use. Other calculators will get no support. You should bring your calculator to class. Do not drop it on hard floors and make sure you do not lose its reference booklet.

        Help is available during your instructor's office hours, your teaching assistant's office hours, and at the ERC (Educational Resource Center). All this can supplement, but not replace, your coming to class and working problems on your own.

        Homework will be assigned weekly on Wednesday, turned in in class on the following Wednesday, and returned during the following week.

        Two tests will be given in class. Likely test dates are Monday, Feb. 20 and Monday, April 10. No test score will be dropped. A doctor's note will be required for absences due to medical emergencies. Other excuses for absences will be dealt with on an individual basis, depending on when the firing squad's available. No make-up exams will be given; missing exams (with valid excuses) will be made up by giving additional weight to the other exam, or from the final.

        The day exam for this course, specially reserved for Mathematics courses, is Friday, May 5, 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., in room TBA. All day students must take this exam; University College students are encouraged to take it as well. The evening exam, reserved for University College students, is Wednesday, May 3, 6:30 to 9:30 P.M., in our classroom; it is expected to be fully comaparable to the day exam in length and difficulty.

        Homework, three tests, and the final exam determine your grade for the class, as follows:

        That's the official grading scale; the weights apply to scores, not to letter grades. I use the same weights, but the tests and final exam are multiple choice, a very unforgiving format, so curving will be applied.