STAT 470 Syllabus for Fall 2006

 

 

• Instructor: Dr. Rama T. Lingham

 

       – Office: DuSable 366 B

       – Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:00pm to 2:50pm, or by appointment

       – Phone: 753-6773

       – Email: rama@math.niu.edu

 

• Textbook: Wackerly, D. D., Mendenhall, W. and Scheaffer, R. L. (2002). Mathematical    Statistics with Applications. Duxbury Press.

 

• Topic Outline:

Chapter

Sections

Topics

 

 

A Short History of Probability

2

4-5

Basic Probability

2

6

Combinatorial Methods

2

7-10

The Laws of Probability

2

11

Introduction to Random Variables

3

1-3

Definition, Distribution and Expectation of Discrete Random Variables

3

4

Binomial Probability Distribution

3

5

Geometric Probability Distribution

3

6

Negative Binomial Probability Distribution

3

7

Hypergeometric Probability Distribution

3

8

Poisson Probability Distribution

3

9

Moments and Moment Generating Functions

3

11

Tchebysheff’s Theorem

4

1-3

Definition,Distribution and Expectation of Continuous Random Variables

4

4

Uniform Probability Distribution

4

5

Normal Probability Distribution

4

6

Gamma Probability Distribution

4

7

Beta Probability Distribution

4

9

Expected Values

5

1-3

Multivariate Probability Distribution

5

4

Independence

5

5-8

Expectation and Covariance

5

11

Conditional Expectation

 

• Grade Structure: There are a total of 500 possible points in this course consisting of two    in-term exams (125 points each), one final exam (200 points) and homework (50 points total).

 

• General Course Regulations:

 

1. Homework will be assigned daily and will be due the Wednesday of the week      following when       it was assigned. It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of which assignments        are due each Wednesday. No late assignments will be accepted for any reason.

 

2. Assignments are to be neat and presented logically on loose-leaf paper. If more than one     sheet of paper is used, the assignment must be stapled together. Please do not ask faculty for use of a stapler. Spiral paper is unacceptable. You are to show all your work. If your       assignments are messy, disorganized or do not follow the previously stated instructions,    you will not receive credit for that assignment.

 

3. Please note that because of the quick pace of this course it is unlikely that all of your    homework will be graded and returned to you before the exams. You may want to make copies of your homework before turning it in.

 

4. All exams are given in the usual classroom. The first Exam is tentatively scheduled for      Friday, October 6, 2006 during regular class time. The second Exam is tentatively scheduled      for Friday, November 3, 2006 during regular class time. The Final Exam is on Wednesday,       December 13, 2006 from 12:00 to 1:50pm.

 

 

 

 

STAT 470 Syllabus for Fall 2006

 

5. All exams are closed book. You may use a hand-held calculator (see restrictions below) at    exams. Sharing of calculators is prohibited. When the instructor calls ”Time”, all exams and exam materials must be turned in within the next minute; otherwise you will get a 0 on   the exam.

 

6. The total possible points for all of the homework during the semester will be 50 points.     The points will be computed by first computing your average homework grade for the    semester      as a percentage. You will then receive that percentage of the 50 points.

 

7. With a total of 500 points possible, the cutpoints for letter grades A, B, C, and D will be 450, 400, 350, and 300 points respectively. There will not be a curve.

 

8. Please note that a grade of incomplete (I) will only be considered for students who are      passing the course, but cannot complete the course due to health or family reasons. A grade      of incomplete will not be assigned to anyone who is not passing the course at the time of       the request.

 

9. Make-up exams will not be given. If there is a serious medical problem which prevents you           from taking an exam or if there is a death in the immediate family, contact me as soon as     possible. In such a case where missing an exam is warranted, your final exam will be worth   325 points instead of the usual 200. The remaining aspects of your grade will be computed     as outlined above.

 

10. There is no extra credit given in this course. Don’t even ask!

 

11. Please note that mistakes in your grades on homework, and/or exams may occur. You have one week from the time the paper was handed back to notify me of the mistake. If you wait       longer than the one week, no change will be made to the grade.

 

12. Due to privacy concerns, I will not discuss grades using email or the telephone. You must   meet with me in person to discuss your grades.

 

13. Attendance: There is no mandatory attendance requirement for this class. Please note,       however, that if you frequently miss class the instructor reserves the right to deny office       hour privileges to you. Further, it is your responsibility to be sure that your work is    turned in and that you get the notes and announcements, if any, from a student in the        class. My notes will not be available to students.

 

14. All university regulations regarding academic misconduct will be followed in this class.    Evidence of academic misconduct will be forwarded to the Northern Illinois University      judicial system and may result in a failing grade for the course or expulsion from the       university.

 

15. This university abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates   that no student shall be denied the benefits of an education solely by reason of handicap.       If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which     you may require accommodations, please see me and the staff at the Center for Access-      Ability Resources (CAAR) located at the Health Services Building as soon as possible so       that accommodations may be arranged.

 

16. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus at any time. Changes will be        announced in lecture