Statistics I
Instructor: Joseph Troxell, Ph.D. 856-256-4500 Adjunct in Dept. of Mathematics Text: Statistics and Data Analysis by Peck, Olsen, Devore Prerequisites: College Algebra or Precalculus Mathematics Required Calculator: The TI-83 Graphing Calculator. There are now more powerful calculators available; I will demonstrate the TI-83. You should bring the calculator with you to every class. You MUST have a calculator for the exams since we will not go over computational formulas. Homework: Time will be spent at the beginning of class going over selected homework problems. Homework is not a component of your grade, although participation in offering answers is encouraged. If no one does the homework, I’ll stop going over it. Grade: Three exams, each counting 1/3 of your grade. The first and third exams will have a hand-in component to be done separately. Exams are not cumulative, including the final exam. Exams will be problem-oriented, where you will calculate quantities and, more importantly, discuss the results. In the event of a low grade, no make-up exams are given. No extra credit is available. Please make every attempt to take exams when scheduled. If you miss an exam, you will need to be able to prove in writing your excuse. Otherwise you really won't be able to pass the course. Attendance Policy: You are 'allowed' two missed classes, equivalent to six day classes, without a penalty, although this is not condoned. After that, each missed class will lower your final grade by one category, for example, from an A to an A-. If you leave at the break, that will count as a half class missed; statements such as, "I don't feel well" will not prevent the penalty. If your employment schedule already lets you know you will miss three or more classes, you should drop the course. Course Goals: This course introduces students to Statistics, which involves the examination and analysis of data. The first third of the course covers descriptive statistics, mostly for quantitative variables. In examining data, the shape, center and spread of a set of data are its most important characteristics. Additional techniques are gone over based on shape, center and spread. The middle third of the course first examines the role of probability and distributions. The addition and multiplication rules are covered. Probability distributions are studied in general, and two specific distributions known as the normal distribution and the binomial are examined. The last third of the course covers the two inference topics of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Statistical inference is introduced with the sampling distribution of the mean and the central limit theorem. The normal distribution makes a return appearance; the t distribution is used for inference when the population spread is unknown. Date Topics Jan 22-24 The standard deviation; the Emperical Rule; z-scores; the coefficient of …………….. variation Jan 29-31 Additional descriptive measures; scatterplots for a pair of variables Feb 5th-7th Basic probability; sample spaces and events; the addition rule; complimentary events; repeated experiments Feb 12th Exam I, weeks 1-3; independent events; multiplication rule Feb 19-21st Random variables; probability distributions; mean (mu) and standard deviation (sigma) Feb 26-28th The binomial distribution; mean and standard deviation; application of the 68-95-99+ rule March 5-7th The normal curve; normal probabilities March 13th Spring Break! March 19-21 Sampling distributions; the central limit theorem March 21 Exam II, weeks 4-8; confidence interval for the mean, sigma known April 2-4th The t distribution when sigma is unknown; sample size determination April 9th-11 Hypothesis testing, type I and type II errors April 16-18 Hypothesis test for the mean; P-values April 23-30th Correlation and regression; the correlation coefficient; the coefficient of determination; calculating the regression line May 2nd Final exam, weeks 9-14 (see schedule) |