Course: Probability Theory

This course provides an elementary introduction to probability with applications. Topics include: basic probability models; random variables; discrete and continuous probability distributions; calculation mathematical expectation and variance; independence; sampling distributions. Simulations about probability are also included.
Students at the end of course should be able to do the following:
1) Understand the concepts and methods of probability theory
2) Contrast, evaluate, and implement simulations
3) Utilize Minitab program for calculating probability distributions, analyzing data and summarizing.

Syllabus

Prerequisite: one year course in calculus
Textbooks (required):
Miller & Freund's Probability and Statistics for Engineers (Seventh Edition), Richard A. Johnson. Publishing House of Electronics Industry or Pearson Education Press. ISBN: 7-121-01931-0. From Chapter 1 to Chapter 6.
References:
1) A First course in Probability (6th Ed), Sheldon Ross. China Statistics Press.
2) Probability & Statistics for Engineers & Scientists (7th Ed), R.E. Walpole,R.H. Myers, S.L. Myers, K. Ye. Tshinghua or Pearson Education Press.
Week schedule (may update later)

Course policies

Grading: Grades for the course will be based on the following weighting
1) Class attendance: 10%
2) Homework assignment: 26%
3) Unit quiz: 24% (8%, 8%, 8%)
4) Final exam: 40%
Homework:
1) You may collaborate on homework, but you must write your submitted work in your own words. All steps are required, this includes showing calculations, derivations, and proofs. Solutions will be posted on the class web site.
2)Assignments are due in class as noted in the syllabus and web page. Homework assignments turned in within 48 hours of the due dates will be penalized 20% even if the solutions are "correct". HW more than two days late may not get graded at all.

Since Feb 17, 2008.