Math 441:
Engineering Statistics,
Spring 2009, 4 Credits, SDSM&T

Finding Your Instructor

Roger Johnson ("Roger" or "Mr. Johnson" is fine), McLaury 314A
email: Roger.Johnson@sdsmt.edu,
Website: http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/~rwjohnso/ (this page and solutions to selected problems are available via the link "Teaching/Class Information")
Phone: 355-3450 (Office), 394-2471 (Department Office)

Office Hours

MWF: 2:00 - 4:00
Th: 9:00 - 10:00

& by appointment

Class Meetings & Important Dates

Class meetings are in EE/Physics 253 (except on March 6 - we'll meet in CB 303), MWThF 1:00 - 1:50, January 15 through May 1. Holidays occur January 19, February 16, March 9-13, April 10, April 13 (for 54 class dates). The last day to drop for 100% refund is January 23; the last day to drop with a 'W' is April 6. The final exam is on Monday, May 4, 1:00-2:50pm. By department policy no early final exams may be given.

Prerequisites

Math 225.

Course Description

An introduction to the core ideas in probability and statistics. Computation of probabilities using, for instance, counting techniques and Bayes' rule. Introduction to discrete and continuous random variables, joint and conditional distributions, expectation, variance and correlation, random sampling from populations, hypothesis tests and confidence intervals, and least squares. Other topics include building multiple regression models, parameter estimation, and reliability. Selected non-parametric and computer-intensive methods may also be covered.

Text Book

Required:

Statistics for Science and Engineering, 2002, by John Kinney, ISBN 0-201-43720-1 ($75 new, $60 used @SDSMT bookstore - prices as of 7 Jan 2009).

Brief Class Summaries

• Jan 15: Numerical summaries of data. Handouts: (i) Syllabus, and (ii) Rapid City annual snowfall handout including R commands and output.
• Jan 16: Numerical and graphical summaries of data. HW: Try downloading R (see "Statistical Software to be Used" below), verify 68 as the upper "fence" for the Rapid City Snowfall boxplot.
• Jan 19: Holiday.
• Jan 21: Graphical summaries of data (continued). The "counting principle". First R Lab distributed - due January 30.
• Jan 22: The Baskin-Robbins Triple-Decker Ice Cream Cone problem - further development of counting techniques. Read 2.1, 2.2. HW: Start working the odd problems in section 2.2.
• Jan 23: Summary of counting methods; additional background on binomial coefficients (including Pascal's triangle). HW: Finish working the odd problems in section 2.2.
• Jan 26: Lotteries. HW: Try verifying several of the "odds" that appear on the "South Dakota Lotteries" handout for the games "Hot Lotto", "Powerball", and "Dakota Cash".
• Jan 28: Sampling distribution of the sample mean. Start to look at probability axioms. Read 2.3.
• Jan 29: Some rules for computing probabilities.
• May 4 (Monday): Final Exam, 1:00 - 2:50pm.

Resources

• Your instructor (please use my office hours)!
• Tech Learning Center (TLC) - Go to bottom floor of the Devereaux Library.
• CAST - Resource for reviewing and learning statistics

Time Commitment

According to the SDSM&T Undergradute & Graduate Catalog, the average student enrolled in Math 441 will need 8 hours of studying time for this class per week (note, for example, that this is 2 hrs/day for 4 days/week).

Grading

Grades will be determined using the following weights:

Homework - 15%,
3 Exams - 20% each
Final Exam (Monday, May 4, 1:00 - 2:50) - 25%

For each one of these exams you may bring a single sheet 8.5" by 11" (both sides!) of notes and, with some restrictions, a calculator. No other materials may be brought in (i.e. exams are closed book). Totals of 90%/80%/70%/60% will guarantee grades of A/B/C/D, respectively. In the case of difficult exams, these cut-offs may be lowered. In borderline grading situations attendance, and class participation may be used to come to a decision. Any students missing an exam or having a school-sponsored activity in conflict with an exam should contact me as soon as possible. I will gladly visit with students who have questions on the scoring of problems on exams, but would ask that you wait at least 24 hrs. after the exam is returned to do so.

Final examinations may not be given early, because of policy adopted by the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.

Statistical Software to be Used

More details will be given on the "R" statistical package during the term. For now, you may download (for free!) R software from the site

http://www.r-project.org/

It compiles and runs on a wide variety of UNIX platforms, Windows and MacOS. A brief introduction to R may be found at http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/~rwjohnso/html/RManual.doc.

Suggestions

With apologies to David Letterman (and from fellow 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 R
2.	Have Fun!
1.	Think!

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.

Occasionally I may have you work on homework with others (e.g. in pairs). Again, you may discuss methods and procedures with other groups, but only group members may be involved in the write-up.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with policies stated in the SDSM&T Undergraduate Graduate 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 course."

Attendance

Attendance is expected and, as described in the SDSM&T Undergraduate and Graduate 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."

Electronic Devices Policy

• Cell Phones:

Please turn-off your cell phone 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.
• Tablet PC:

Your screen must be in the locked-down mode during class. This will allow you to take notes with your stylus (e.g. via OneNote or Windows Journal).
• Headphones:

No headphones.
• Dyknow:

You may be required to download DyKnow software and then join Math 441 to use your laptop.

Freedom in learning

Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

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.

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