M362K Fall 2012

Probability I, unique # 56260


Instructor: Thomas Chen
Office: RLM 12.138.
Office hours: Tu 12:30 - 1:30 PM and, upon request, 3:30 - 4 PM.
Email: t c A_T m a t h . u t e x a s . e d u
Phone: (512) 471 7180
Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 - 12:30 AM
Location: RLM 6.114.



Syllabus and Course Information


An 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.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 408D, 408L, or 408S with a grade of at least C-.

Syllabus and prerequisites. For important dates, see the academic calendar.

Updated course information will be posted here. Weekly homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard.

Please be sure to check this website regularly.

Textbook: A First Course in Probability by Sheldon Ross. 8th Edition, Prentice Hall.

We will treat much of the material in chapters 1 - 8 of Ross' book.

Tentative schedule:
  • Week 1 (8/30): Sections 1.1 - 1.4
  • Week 2 (9/4, 9/6): Sections 2.1 - 2.5
  • Week 3 (9/11, 9/13): Sections 2.7, 3.1 - 3.3 (Q-drop deadline)
  • Week 4 (9/18, 9/20): Section 3.4, 4.1 - 4.3
  • Week 5 (9/25, 9/27): Review, Midterm I on Thursday, September 27
  • Week 6 (10/2, 10/4): Sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.6.1
  • Week 7 (10/9, 10/11): Sections 4.7, 4.8.1, 5.1, 5.2
  • Week 8 (10/16, 10/18): Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
  • Week 9 (10/23, 10/25): Sections 5.5, 5.7
  • Week 10 (10/30, 11/1): Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
  • Week 11 (11/6, 11/8): Sections 6.4, 6.5, 7.1, 7.2
  • Week 12 (11/13, 11/15): Sections 7.3, 7.4, Review
  • Week 11 (11/20, 11/22): Midterm II on Tuesday, November 20.
  • Week 12 (11/27, 11/29): Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
  • Week 13 (12/4, 12/6): Section 8.4, Review
Class attendance is required. This is a demanding course; you need to keep track of the material as we go along and stay up to date.

Homework


Collaborations are encouraged, but you have to present your own solutions. Simply copying somebody else's work is not acceptable.

The handin time of the HW's is at the beginning of the Thursday classes (or earlier). No late handins are accepted.

Homework Assignments and updates

  • Weekly HW assignments and solutions are posted on Blackboard.
    Please check there regularly.
  • Midterm 1 on Sep 27 in the usual classroom, at the usual time.
    Exam info posted on Blackboard.
  • Final exam time and location updated (on this page).
  • Midterm 2 on Nov 20 in the usual classroom, at the usual time.
    Exam info will soon be posted on Blackboard.

Exams and Grades


There will be two in-class midterms, and one final exam.

The in-class midterms take place during regular class hours, and in the usual classroom, ENS 109:

Midterm I on Thursday, September 27.

Midterm II on Tuesday, November 20.

Please save these dates, there will be no make-up exams !

Final Exam on Wednesday, December 12, 7 - 10 PM. Location: RLM 6.114.

It is implicit in your registration for this class that, barring some unforeseen calamity, you affirm to be present to take the final examination at this time.

The course grade will be determined as follows:

Homework: 10 percent
Midterm 1: 25 percent
Midterm 2: 25 percent
Final Exam: 40 percent


Range of letter grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F.

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities.
For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.