MATH 362K: Probability

Course Unique Number: 54160

General Information

Instructor: David Clark (clark@math.utexas.edu)

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2pm-3pm, in CPE 2.220.

Office hours: Monday 9:30am-10:30am, Wednesday 10:30am-11:30am, and Friday 12:30pm-1:30pm, or by appointment; in room RLM 13.164 or by telephone 512-471-6410 (only during office hours).

Text: Probability and Statistics with Applications, 2nd Ed., by Asimov and Maxwell, ISBN 978-1-62542-472-3, published by ACTEX.

Final exam date: Thursday, May 10, 9:00am-noon. The location will be announced later in the semester. There is no provision for taking the final exam earlier or later.

Course webpage: http://www.ma.utexas.edu/users/clark/Courses/2018/Spring/362K/.

Course Description

Introductory course in the mathematical theory of probability, fundamental to further work in probability and statistics, includes basic probability properties, conditional probability and independence, various discrete and continuous random variables, expectation and variance, central limit theorem, and joint probability distributions.

Prerequisites

The prerequisite is a grade of at least C- in Mathematics 408D, 408L, or 408S.

Grading for this Course

Homework: There will be homework assigned each week, done online using the Quest system, located at https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/. The homework must be completed online by the date posted, typically about one week after it becomes available. Note that Quest will subtract points for wrong answers, so think carefully before you answer or you could end up with a negative score.

Exams: There will be two midterm exams, to be held during the usual class period, and a comprehensive final exam. The midterms are tentatively scheduled for February 19 and April 4. The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, 9:00am-noon. Please mark on your calendars now the time and date of the exams. Textbooks, notes, and electronic devices (including phones and calculators) are not permitted during exams.

Grading Scheme: The final grade will be the maximum determined under these two grade weighting schemes:

Activity Scheme 1 Scheme 2

Homework 20%

Midterm Exams 40%

Final Exam 40% 100%

Letter Grades

The grading convention, 90.00-100% A, 86.67-90.00% A-, 83.33-86.67% B+, 80-83.33% B, 76.67%-80.00% B-, 73.33-76.67% C+, 70.00-73.33% C, 66.67%-70.00% C-, 63.33-66.67% D+, 60.00-63.33% D,56.67%-60.00% D-, less than 56.67% F, will be followed. If for some reason there is a deviation from this scale it will be applied uniformly to the whole class. Changes to the scale will only make the scale more generous.

Policies

University Code of Conduct: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

Student Honor Code: "As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity."

Academic Integrity: A fundamental principle for any educational institution, academic integrity is highly valued and seriously regarded at The University of Texas at Austin. More specifically, you and other students are expected to maintain absolute integrity and a high standard of individual honor in scholastic work undertaken at the University. This is a very basic expectation that is further reinforced by the University's Honor Code. At a minimum, you should complete any assignments, exams, and other scholastic endeavors with the utmost honesty which requires you to:

acknowledge the contributions of other sources to your scholastic efforts;
complete your assignments independently unless expressly authorized to seek or obtain assistance in preparing them;
follow instructions for assignments and exams, and observe the standards of your academic discipline; and
avoid engaging in any form of academic dishonesty on behalf of yourself or another student.

Students who violate university rules regarding academic integrity are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the university. Policies on scholastic honesty will be strictly enforced. This includes but is not limited to: writing another student’s name on an in-class activity, or otherwise taking or giving credit for work that is not one’s own. This is viewed as a form of cheating by The University of Texas and will be treated as such in this class as well. You are responsible for understanding UT’s Academic Honesty and the University Honor Code which can be found at the following web address: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php

Documented Disability Statement: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/

Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): If you are worried about someone who is acting differently, you may use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line to discuss by phone your concerns about another individual’s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-232-5050 or visit http://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal

Excused Absences: For an absence to be excused you must provide legitimate documentation prior to or no later than one week after your absence. Excused absences include:

Illness (must have a signed note from your physician on their letterhead; generic “no excuse” form letters from University Health Services will not be accepted)
Critical family events (e.g., weddings or funerals)
Official UT events (e.g., games if you’re an athlete, concerts if you’re a band member)
Religious Holy Days

If you have an excused absence, you will have one week to complete whatever in-class work you missed (quiz, exam, etc.). If your excused absence occurred on a day when a quiz or an exam was given, it is your responsibility to arrange to take a make-up quiz or exam. It is also your responsibility to leave the classroom if the quiz or exam is being discussed before you take the make-up version. Failure to do so will result in forfeiting your opportunity to take the make-up.

Campus Safety and Security: In case of an emergency evacuation, please be aware of the following recommendations the Office of Campus Safety and Security has outlined to keep you and others safe. Additional information may be available at 512-471-5767 or http://www.utexas.edu/safety/.

Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside.
Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class.
In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors.
Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.
Information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: http://www.utexas.edu/emergency

Counseling: Students often encounter non-academic difficulties during the semester, including stresses from family, health issues, and lifestyle choices. The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) provides counseling, psychiatric consultation, and prevention services that facilitate students' academic and life goals and enhance their personal growth and well-being. Counseling and Mental Health Center, Student Services Bldg (SSB), 5th Floor, open M-F 8am-5pm. Tel. 512-471-3515 (appointments), 512-471-CALL (crisis line), or https://www.cmhc.utexas.edu

Drop dates: January 19 is the last day to drop without approval of the department chair; January 31 is the last day to drop the course for a possible refund; April 2 is the last day an undergraduate student may, with the dean's approval, withdraw from the University or drop a class except for urgent and substantiated, nonacademic reasons. For more information about deadlines for adding and dropping the course under different circumstances, please consult the Registrar's web page, http://registrar.utexas.edu/calendars/17-18/.

Quest

This course makes use of the web-based Quest content delivery and homework server system maintained by the College of Natural Sciences. This homework service will require a $30 charge per student per class for its use, with no sudent being charged more than $60 a semester. This goes toward the maintenance and operation of the resource. Please go to http://quest.cns.utexas.edu to log into the Quest system for this class. After the 12th day of class, when you log into Quest you will be asked to pay via credit card on a secure payment site. Quest provides mandatory instructional material for this course, just as is your textbook, etc. For payment questions email quest.billing@cns.utexas.edu.

Rough Schedule

Jan 17, 19: sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Jan 22, 24, 26: sections 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3
Jan 29, 31, Feb 2: sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1
Feb 5, 7, 9: sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
Feb 12, 14, 16: sections 3.5, 3.6, Review
Feb 19, 21, 23: Midterm 1, sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
Feb 26, 28, Mar 2: sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.6
Mar 5, 7, 9: sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Mar 12, 14, 16: Spring Break
Mar 19, 21, 23: sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6
Mar 26, 28, 30: sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
Apr 2, 4, 6: Review, Midterm 2, section 7.1
Apr 9, 11, 13: sections 7.2, 7.3, 7.4
Apr 16, 18, 20: sections 7.5, 7.6, 7.7
Apr 23, 25, 27: sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Apr 30, May 2, 4: section 8.4, Review

Activity	Scheme 1	Scheme 2
Homework	20%
Midterm Exams	40%
Final Exam	40%	100%