2016
Syllabus
Course: Math 11 (Course Catalog)
Title: Elementary Probability and Statistics
Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite: Math 10AB or Math 20AB
Catalog Description for Math 11: Events and probabilities, conditional probability, Bayes’ formula. Discrete random variables: mean, variance; binomial, Poisson distributions. Continuous random variables: densities, mean, variance; normal, uniform, exponential distributions, central limit theorem. Sample statistics, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression. Applications. Intended for biology and social science majors.
Description for Math 11 Lab: Introduction to the use of software in probabilistic and statistical analysis. Emphasis on understanding connections between the theory of probability and statistics, numerical results of real data, and learning techniques of data analysis and interpretation useful for solving scientific problems.
Click here for the Math 11 labs webpage.
Textbook: Stats: Data and Models (4th edition) by De Veaux, Velleman, and Bock. The bookstore will be selling both ordinary hardback copies of the textbook and binder-ready copies, which will be available at a lower price. Either version will be fine.
Material Covered: We will cover most of chapters 1-25 of the textbook. This will include material on descriptive statistics, probability theory, and statistical inference. Because Math 11 students have seen calculus, we will also cover some material on continuous probability that is not in the textbook. A list of what topics will be covered each day can be found on the Course Calendar.
Statistical Software: Students will complete the Math 11 labs using the statistical software MINITAB (which runs on Windows). This software has been installed on the computers in the ACMS labs in rooms B325, B349, and B432 in the basement of the Applied Physics and Mathematics building.
(Follow this link to the Math 11 labs webpage to see how to access MINITAB.)
Graphing Calculators: Although a graphing calculator is not required for the course, it is likely to be helpful. Having a graphing calculator avoids the need to use tables for statistical inference. Graphing calculators will be permitted on exams. The TI-83 is recommended for Statistics, but other calculators such as the TI-89 are fine also.
Homework: Homework is a very important part of the course and in order to fully master the topics it is essential that you work carefully on every assignment and try your best to complete every problem. We will have two different kinds of homework assignments in this class: online homework and written homework.
- Written homework assignments will be announced on the course "Homework" page. You should do each assignment neatly and carefully, and show the steps in your calculations, not just the final answer. Written homework assignments will be due on Wednesdays. You must turn in your homework using your TA's homework dropbox (in the basement of AP&M) before 5:00 PM on the due date.
- Online homework will be done through MyStatLab, a service offered by Pearson Higher Ed., the publisher of our textbook. (You must use your UCSD email in order to receive credit for the online homework.)
Course Readings: Reading the chapters in the textbook that correspond to what we are discussing in class is a very important part of learning the subject. Lecture time is very limited and not every subject can be fully covered in the time allotted for lecture. Consequently, it is in your own interests to read the related chapters in the textbook. The assigned reading will be posted on the course "Homework" page with the homework corresponding to that reading.
Computer Labs: There will be eight computer assignments (labs) associated with Math 11. These assignments will be due on Fridays. You will be able to ask questions about them in the computer labs on the previous Thursday. Your TAs will have Lab hours every Thursday of the quarter. You must submit your completed assignments online using TritonEd (TED). Instructions are available on the Math 11 Labs webpage.
Exams: There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. The midterm exams will be held during class. Check the Course Calendar for the exact dates of the midterm and final exams. You will be permitted to use a calculator during the exams. You will not be permitted to use notes or your book, but you will be provided with a list of formulas. Bring your student ID to the exams. You may be asked for it.
Note about Final Exam: It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not have a schedule conflict involving the final examination. You should not enroll in this class if you cannot sit for the final examination at its scheduled time.
Grading: Your Math 11 grade will be obtained from your scores on 10 homework assignments, 8 computer lab assignments, and 3 exams (2 midterms and 1 final). Your Math 11 weighted average will be calculated as follows:
| Component | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Online HW | 10% |
| Pen & Paper HW | 10% |
| Labs | 20% |
| Midterm 1 | 15% |
| Midterm 2 | 15% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
Letter grades will be assigned based on your performance relative to the class in such a way that the average grade for the course is likely to be a B-.
Note: No homework or lab scores will be dropped, so you should make every effort to do each assignment and turn it in on time. This policy is designed to encourage students to complete all assignments and reward those who do.
Grade Recording Errors: Keep all of your returned homework and exams. If there is any mistake in the recording of your scores, you will need the original assignment/lab/exam in order for us to make a change.
Regrades: All graded material will be returned in discussion sections. If you wish to have your exam regraded, you must return it immediately to your TA. Regrade requests will not be considered once the exam leaves the room. If you do not retrieve your exam during discussion section, you must arrange to pick it up from your TA within one week after it was returned in order for any regrade request to be considered.
UPDATE to Regrade Policy (27 Apr 2016): This quarter, we are using Gradescope (https://gradescope.com/). As a consequence, exams will not be returned during discussion section. Instead, a digital version of your exams will be made available after the grading has been completed. However, the regrade policy remains unchanged: You must contact your TA within one week of the exam being returned. (The only difference is that the exam will be returned to you via Gradescope instead of during discussion section.)
Make-up Exams: Make-up midterm exams will not be given. However, if you miss a midterm exam because of extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious illness or family emergency, and document the circumstances, then you may substitute your final exam score for the missed exam.
Note: No students are allowed to take an exam early. If a student is entitled to accommodation, it will only be offered after the scheduled exam time and during normal Mathematics Department business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm).
Late Homework/Lab Policy: Each type of assignment has a different late policy.
- For handwritten (pen-and-paper) homework, late assignments will not be accepted. You are required to turn in only a small selection of the exercises and so it is felt you have plenty of time. If you know that you will be out of town the day a homework assignment is due, you should make sure you turn it in before you leave.
- Online homework may be submitted late, but for a 50% reduction in point values. (The reduction is per problem, not per assignment, so you will be penalized only on those problems that are submitted after the deadline.)
- Computer labs will be accepted one day late with a 3-point penalty but will not be accepted more than one day late. Exceptions are the first lab (which can be submitted up to five days late with a 1-point penalty) and the last lab (which will not be accepted late).
Note: Forgetting the due date is not considered an "extraordinary circumstance".
Suggestions: Below are some suggestions that I hope will help you to succeed in this course:
- Spend sufficient time on the course. According to the policy of UCSD's Academic Senate, "The value of a course in units ... shall be reckoned at the rate of one unit for three hours' work per week per quarter on the part of the student." Math 11 is worth 5 credits, so you should be willing to spend about 15 hours per week on the course.
- Keep up with the homework and turn in all homework and lab assignments. Missing a homework assignment or a computer lab assignment will hurt your grade because no homework or computer lab scores will be dropped. This policy is designed to encourage students to complete all assignments and reward those who do.
- Get started on the computer lab assignments before your TA's Thursday lab hours. This will enable you to make the most of your TA's lab time by coming prepared with specific questions.
- When doing textbook problems, try doing odd-numbered problems before even-numbered problems. Most even-numbered end-of-chapter problems are similar to the preceding problem, so if you are stuck on problem 24, try problem 23, and check your answer against the back of the book.
It is essential that all students adhere to the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship. Cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Coordinator. To read the Academic Integrity Policy, follow the link below:
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