IEng/Math 381: Introduction to Probability & Statistics, 3 credits, Fall 2008, SDSM&T

Finding Your Instructor

Roger Johnson ("Roger" or "Mr. Johnson" is fine), McLaury 314A
email: Roger.Johnson@sdsmt.edu
web: http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/~rwjohnso,
355-3450 (office), 394-2471 (math/cs office)

(Tentative) Office Hours

MWF 9:00 - 9:45, 1:30 - 2:30
Th 11:00 - 12:00
& by appointment (catch me just after class, or send an email to make arrangements)

Class Meetings & Important Dates

Class meetings occur MWF starting Wednesday, September 3 through Friday, December 12 with holidays on October 13 and November 28 (for a total of 40 class meetings). The last day to drop for 100% refund is September 11; the last day to drop with a 'W' is November 17. The final exam for this class - which may not be taken early by department policy, occurs:

Prerequisites

Math 225, Calculus III, should be taken prior to or simultaneously with this class.

Course Description

(From the catalog) IEng/Math 381: Introduction to probability, discrete and continuous distributions, sampling distributions and central limit theorem, general principles for statistical inference.

Tentative text sections include, but are not limited to: 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.5, 3.1-3.3, 4.1-4.3, 4.4 Hypergeometric & Geometric only, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8 Uniform only, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12 time permitting, 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.4, 7.1-7.2 (about 30 sections).

Text Book & Course Materials

Required:

Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, 2nd edition, 2008, by William Navidi, ISBN 978-0-07-312779-8 ($152.50 new, $122.00 used @SDSMT bookstore).

Some problem solutions may be found at http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/rwjohnso/html/solutions.html

Resources

Day-by-Day Quick Summary & Homework Listing

Time Commitment

According to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Undergradute & Graduate Catalog, (c.f. section 'Definition of Credit Hours') the average student enrolled in IEng/Math 381 will need 6 hours of studying time for this class per week (note, for example, that this is 1 hour/day for 6 days/week).

Grading

Grades will be determined using the following weights:

Homework, including Minitab Labs - 15%,
Exams (3) during the term - 20% each
Final Exam - 25%


For each one of these exams you may bring a single sheet 8.5" by 11" (both sides!) of notes and a calculator. No other materials may be brought in (e.g. exams are closed book). In borderline grading situations attendance, and class participation may be used to come to a decision. A course grade of 'A' is guaranteed for a 90% or better average, 'B' for a 80%-89% average, 'C' for a 70%-79% average, 'D' for a 60-69% average. The 90%/80%/70%/60% cut-offs may drop a bit depending on the difficulty level of the exams.

Accessing Minitab

To access Minitab, use the path

f:\NetApps\minitab\15\program files\Minitab 15\Mtb.exe

(or, Fall 2008, use the the sequence Start/Programs/Dept/MATH/Minitab Solutions/ Minitab 15 Statistical Software English on a campus PC). To enter Minitab Commands, click somewhere on the top ("Session") Window, then on Editor, then on Enable Commands. This will bring up the Minitab MTB> prompt.

You may download, for free, a 30-day demonstration version of Minitab at the web site http://minitab.com/products/minitab/demo/.

Suggestions

With apologies to David Letterman (and from fellow statistics educator Allan Rossman from whom I stole most of this), I offer you the following "Top Ten" suggestions as you approach this course:


10.

Come to Class

9.

Ask Questions

8.

Use Office Hours

7.

Don't Get Behind

6.

Don't Get Overconfident

5.

Work Together

4.

Read Carefully

3.

Get Comfortable with "Minitab"

2.

Have Fun!

1.

Think!

For Further Reading

If you really enjoy this class and want to find out more about probability and statistics and related applications, then you may wish to read one of the following titles:

Homework Policies

Homework, in general, should be turned in at the beginning of class on the date requested. I will accept a late homework set only under the following two conditions: (i) the solutions to this homework set have not yet been distributed or discussed in class, and (ii) I have not yet graded the homework set for those people who turned it in on-time.


For homework that you are to work on as individuals, you may discuss methods and procedures openly with classmates. Once you begin to write-up the homework you are to turn in, however, this must be done alone. Likewise, if I have you work on homework with others (e.g. in pairs) you may discuss methods and procedures with other groups, but only group members may be involved during the write-up.

Freedom in Learning Statement

Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Electronic Devices Policy

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to vibrate before class starts. Please leave the room if you must answer your phone. If your phone rings during class you will provide donuts or cookies to the entire class during the next class meeting. No text messaging in class. No headphones. If you wish to use a laptop in this class for purposes of note taking, that's great; however, you may be required to download DyKnow software and then join Math/IEng 381 to activate.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with policies stated in the SDSMT Undergraduate Catalog. In particular, "the penalty for any act of academic dishonesty . . . shall be at the discretion of the instructor and may . . . [result in] failure in the class."

Attendance

Attendance is expected and, as described in the SDSMT Undergraduate Catalog, "a student who fails to attend classes regularly [apart from school-sponsored activities] must satisfy such requirements as the instructor in a course may prescribe."

ADA Note

Students with special needs or requiring special accomodation should contact the instructor and/or the campus ADA coordinator, Jolie McCoy, at 394-1924 at the earliest opportunity.