Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences

Course Catalogue Description: Sample spaces, counting, random variables and their distributions , expected value, central limit theorem. Estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, analysis of variance and regression. MAT 421 does not count towards the Mathematics or Applied Mathematics major or minor. Cannot be taken for credit after successfully completing MAT 521. Course Description: This is a one-semester calculus-based introduction to probability and statistics for students in engineering and the life sciences. Students who have taken 12 credits of calculus equivalent to MAT295-397 may wish to take instead the sequence MAT521-525, which covers similar material more broadly and in greater depth. (Students interested in stochastic processes rather than mathematical statistics may follow MAT521 with MAT526.) Grading: Grades for the course will be based on the total number of points accumulated on homework, quizzes, two tests and the final. The two tests will count 25% each, the homework & quizzes 20% and the cumulative final exam 30% toward your grade. There will be absolutely no make-ups for any reason. If you miss a quiz/test for a valid reason (which must be verified by a note from a physician or your dean's office), performance from the corresponding part of a test/final will be used as replacement. The final will only be given at this time, so do not make plans to leave town before 7:15 pm on Thursday, December 11. Homework: Homework will be assigned regularly and some of the problems will be asked to be turned in. You may discuss these problems with other students, but each of you is expected to write up your own solutions independently. The best way to learn this material is to do homework problems. You cannot learn mathematics by watching someone else perform it any more than you can learn to play violin by attending a concert. Try as much as possible to do the homework on your own.