ST371 Fall 2019 Syllabus
Fall 2019 Course Syllabus: ST 371 Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory
3 Credit Hours
Course Description:
Basic concepts of probability and distribution theory for students in the physical sciences, computer science and engineering. Provides the background necessary to begin study of statistical estimation, inference, regression analysis, analysis of variance.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Graphically describe data distributions.
2. Decide which distribution to use for some common processes.
3. For some commonly used distributions, calculate related probabilities, mean and variance.
4. Describe the relationship between two variables using their joint distribution, covariance and correlation.
5. Understand sampling distribution, central limit theorem and its application.
Course Structure
The course meets for lectures twice per week. Students are required to complete in-class activities, homework, and three mid-term exams; final exam is optional.
Course Policies
You are permitted to work together on the homework sets, but each student is responsible for their own final write-up of each assignment. When asked to solve problems using a computer, please provide minimal computer output, circle all relevant results, and give appropriate discussion. Students are responsible for checking their unity email and the course website regularly for announcements and materials.
Teaching Team
Dr. Dan Harris - Instructor
Email: [email protected]
Office Location: 5118 SAS Hall
Office Hours: W 2-4 pm, F 9-11 am and by appointment
Yuqi Su - Teaching Assistant for ST 371-002
Email: [email protected]
Office Location: 1101 SAS Hall
Office Hours: Tu/Th 9:30-10:30 am
Kang Wang - Teaching Assistant for ST 371-003
Email: [email protected]
Office Location: 1101 SAS Hall
Office Hours: M 3-5 pm
Note: You are welcome to attend any office hours listed above.
Course Meetings Tu/Th 1:30 – 2:45pm, G20 Kamphoefner Hall
Requisites and Restrictions Prerequisite: MA 241, Co-requisite: MA 242
(GEP) Information This course does not fulfill a General Education Program category or co-requisite.
Transportation This course will not require students to provide their own transportation. Non-scheduled class time for field trips or out-of-class activities is NOT required for this class.
Safety & Risk Assumptions None
Course Materials
- Required Text: Jay L. Devore, Probability & Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences, 9th Edition, ISBN: 978-1-305-25180-9 (cost about $180 new)
- Basic Calculator (e.g., TI-83, cost will vary)
Grading
In-class activities — 50 points
During class students will complete 11 in class activities and exercises that illustrate course content. Participating students will receive 5 points for each in-class-activity. Students who do not attend these classes will receive a zero for that day’s participation. One lowest score will be dropped.
Homework — 100 points
There will be 11 homework assignments worth 10 points each. They will be posted to the course website and will be due in class the following week. One lowest homework grade will be dropped.
Three Midterm Exams — 100 points each
Midterm Exam 1: 9/19/2019
Midterm Exam 2: 10/22/2019
Midterm Exam 3: 11/26/2019
(Tentative schedule – dates subject to change.)
All exams are closed book & note. For each midterm exam students may use one 8 ½ X 11 (inch) page of notes (front and back). Basic calculators (such as TI-83) may be used on all exams. Requests for re-grading of exams must be made in writing. These requests should contain a complete description of the reason for grade adjustment and the student’s name. The request should be attached to the exam and submitted to the instructor within two weeks of the day exams are returned in class.
Optional Comprehensive Final Exam (1:00-4:00 pm, 12/12/2019) — 100 points
On the last day of class I will estimate a final exam grade for you based on your tests and homework thus far, and I will announce the cutoff points for letter grades. If you are happy with your grade based on the estimated final, you are finished. If you opt to take the final exam, I will replace the estimated exam by the actual final exam grade if the actual final exam grade is higher.
All exams are closed book & note. For the final exam, students may use three 8 ½ X 11 (inch) pages of notes (front and back). Basic calculators (such as TI-83) may be used on all exams. Requests for re-grading of exams must be made in writing. These requests should contain a complete description of the reason for grade adjustment and the student’s name. The request should be attached to the exam and submitted to the instructor within two weeks of the day you receive exam scores.
Total Possible — 550 points
Letter Grades
This Course uses Standard NCSU Letter Grading. Percentage cutoffs are firm and no rounding occurs.
Requirements for Credit-Only (S/U) Grading
In order to receive a grade of S, students are required to take all exams and quizzes, complete all assignments, and earn a grade of C- or better. Conversion from letter grading to credit only (S/U) grading is subject to university deadlines. Refer to the Registration and Records calendar for deadlines related to grading. For more details refer to http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-15.
Requirements for Auditors (AU)
Information about and requirements for auditing a course can be found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-04.
Policies on Incomplete Grades
If an extended deadline is not authorized by the instructor or department, an unfinished incomplete grade will automatically change to an F after either (a) the end of the next regular semester in which the student is enrolled (not including summer sessions), or (b) the end of 12 months if the student is not enrolled, whichever is shorter. Incompletes that change to F will count as an attempted course on transcripts. The burden of fulfilling an incomplete grade is the responsibility of the student. The university policy on incomplete grades is located at http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-50-3.
Late Assignments
All due dates are firm and no late work will be accepted, no exception. Computer failures, lost files, sickness or other difficulties are not valid excuses for submitting an assignment late.
Attendance Policy
For complete attendance and excused absence policies, please see http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03
Makeup Work Policy
There is no make up for homework assignments.
Students who are unable to attend an exam for a legitimate unavoidable reason may take a make-up exam only if they provide suitable documentation. According to university policy, a student must notify the instructor in advance if s/he will miss an exam. If it is not possible to notify the instructor in advance, the instructor must be given notice as soon as possible after the exam.
Suitable documentation of an absence: Examples include a physician’s note in case of illness or letter from the University or a student's advisor. Students who have a personal emergency (extreme family illness or death, etc.) should contact the Division of Academic & Student Affairs (515-2446; http://dasa.ncsu.edu/) to obtain documentation.
Academic Integrity and Honesty
Students are required to comply with the university policy on academic integrity found in the Code of Student Conduct found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01
See http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01 for a detailed explanation of academic honesty.
Copying someone else's work and presenting it as your own is plagiarism. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. To create a fair and equitable environment, the instructor aggressively enforces the universities policies on academic misconduct. Although working together on written assignments to overcome obstacles is encouraged, each student must compose and write their own analysis and reports. All cases of academic misconduct will be handled as set out in university policies.
Honor Pledge
Your signature on any test or assignment indicates "I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test or assignment."
Electronically-Hosted Course Components
Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the course, via electronic tools like email or web-postings, where relevant to the course. Examples include online discussions of class topics, and posting of student coursework. All students are expected to respect the privacy of each other by not sharing or using such information outside the course.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, student must register with the Disability Services Office (http://www.ncsu.edu/dso), 919-515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation at http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-01.
Non-Discrimination Policy
NC State University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment to maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation is a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also prohibited. NC State's policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05 or http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/. Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 919- 515-3148.
Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change)
Week 1: Introduction to distribution theory, plots, location, variability
Week 2: Sample space, probability, conditional probability, law of total
probability
Week 3: Bayes Theorem, independence, intro to discrete random variables
Week 4: Discrete random variables
Week 5: Exam 1 in class on 9/19
Week 6: Binomial, Hypergeometric, Negative Binomial random variables
Week 7: Poisson random variables, intro to continuous random variables
Week 8: Continuous random variables, Fall Break
Week 9: Normal random variables
Week 10: Exam 2 in class on 10/22
Week 11: Exponential/Gamma distributions
Week 12: Other continuous random variables (e.g. Weibull, Beta)
Week 13: Joint distributions for two random variables, covariance, correlation
Week 14: Distributions for sample statistics
Week 15: Exam 3 in class on 11/26, Thanksgiving Break
Week 16: Distributions for linear combinations of random variables, review
Dec 12, 2019: Final Exam, 1:00-4:00 pm