Syllabus for Math 341

Probability, Fall 1999, Central College.

Jump to the class schedule and assignments section.


Professor: Tom Linton, 312 B Central Hall, campus phone (515) 628-5264, email: lintont@central.edu.
Office Hours: 11 AM Monday, 10 AM and 3 PM Tuesday, 3 PM Wednesday, 10 AM Friday, or by appointment.
Class Meets: 9:00 to 9:50 AM MWF in Central Hall 308.
Text: Mathematical Statistics with Applications 5th Edition, by Wackerly, Mendenhall and Scheaffer.
Technology: A graphing calculator similar to the TI-83 is highly recommended. If you have one, you should bring it to class daily. The software programs Mathematica and/or Minitab may be used on occasion. No prior knowledge of these programs is assumed. Calculators (similar to the TI-83) are allowed on all exams. The class web page is located at the URL http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/fall99/Probability/probability.html and some information relevant to this course will be distributed via email. You should check your email regularly for pertinent class information and visit the class web page on occasion (weekly).

Course overview

This is the first half of a two semester study of statistics, or the science of inferring information from data. A majority of our time this semester will be devoted to understanding notions of probability or chance (which is valuable in its own right, not just as a lead-in to statistics). The first seven chapters of the text cover probability, and we will attempt to cover most of this material.

Grades

We will have 2 midterm exams worth 100 points each and a cumulative 150 point final exam given Tuesday, December 14, at 8 AM. The midterm exams will likely occur after we finish chapter 3 (exam 1) and chapter 5 (exam 2). There is therefore a total of 350 exam points in this course.
We will have 1 or 2 group projects in this class, worth 100 points each. These are challenging group assignments, similar to tough take-home exam problems, which replace exams, require word processed write ups and emphasize writing mathematics in a clear and concise manner. You will be given approximately 2 weeks to complete each project.
I will attempt to assign roughly 200 points in homework assignments, quizzes (normally announced), activities (things we do in class instead of lecture) and other forms of class participation (attendance, explaining your solutions to homework problems, discussions, etc.).
Grades (based on the letter, or A, A-, B+, B, B-, . . . system) will be based on a curve (no stricter than the traditional 90, 80, 70, 60 scheme) of the (approximately) 750 total points in the class (350 exams, 200 projects, 200 other). There is no extra credit for this class. You are encouraged to work together on group assignments (including homework), but copying answers of others is not allowed.

If any student has a physical, learning or psychiatric disability that restricts the development or expression of your gifts, please feel free to let me know so that we can, when possible, make accommodations that will enhance your classroom experience.

Late assignments and academic dishonesty:

Late homework, activities, and projects will be penalized by 10% each lecture they are late. I am fairly flexible about giving exams at alternate times, BUT you should definitely warn me before the exam is missed, and plan on taking it early rather than late. Quizzes missed due to absences can NOT be made up. You are responsible for all of the material covered in class each day, even if you are not present.

Plagiarism, or copying answers from other people or books without citing the source is a serious offense and will result in no credit for the work.  It is OK to discuss your answers with other groups on group assignments, but  the work you turn in must be your own.

Schedule:

Relevant information will be added this schedule as we progress through the semester. An up to date version is available on line at http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/fall99/Probability/341syll.html#schedule.
 
WEEK DATES SECTION(S) ASSIGNMENTS
   1 8-25 and 27 Chp 1 1 a,d,4,5,6,9,10,11 (for 1.4 only),12,16,21
   2 8-30 to 9-3 2.1 to 2.4 2,3,4,8,10,13,14,17,19,21,24,26,27,29,30, 
32,37,39,44
   3 9-8 and 10 
Labor day break (9-6). 
Add-drop deadline (9-7).		 2.5 and 2.7 47,51,52 
  4 9-13 to 9-17 2.8 to 2.9 57,59,62,65,70,71,74,78,79,81
  5 9-20 to 9-24 2.10 to 2.12 83,84,89,93,94,95,98
  6 9-27 to 10-1 3.1 to 3.5 1,2,6,9,10,11,14,16,19,21,24,27,30,33, 
35,40,41,44,45,46,48,49,50,53,55,59
  7 10-4 to 8 review, 3.5 exam 1, exam 1 practice
  8 10-11 and 13 3.7 Fall break
  9 10-18 to 22 3.7, 3.8 70,71,72,75,76,79 Poisson activity, 
81 to 84,86,90,92
 10 10-25 to 29 3.9, 3.11 101 to 104, 106,107 
113,114,117,121
 11 11-1 to 5 4.1, 4.2 2,3,4,6,8,11
 12 11-8 to 12 4.3 12,16,17,18,22
exam 2 review answers.
 13 11-15 to 19 4.4, 4.5 24,25,26,28,31
34 to 37,43,45,49
 14 11-22 and 24
Thanksgiving		 7.5
4.6		 7.35, 7.36 Bob's Grocery project.
51,52,53,55,58,64,67,70
 15 11-29 to 12-3 4.7 to 4.10  
 16 12-6 to 10 chapter 5  
  12-14 (Tues) 8 AM Final Exam Cumulative 150 point final.

This personal page is no longer maintained and was last updated November 24, 1999.

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this page are the responsibility of Tom Linton and do not necessarily reflect Central College  policies or official positions."