MATH 350: Probability
Fall 2024
Course Syllabus and Class Policies
1.
Major Course Topics:
·
Introduction to
Probability; Discrete and Continuous Distributions; Simulations
·
Combinatorics
·
Conditional
Probability
·
Basic Distributions
and Densities
·
Expected Value;
Variance; Moments
·
Sums of Random
Variables
·
Law of Large
Numbers
·
Central Limit
Theorem
·
Generating
Functions
The tentative detailed
schedule of the course can be found at http://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m350f24schedule.html .
2. Course
Learning Outcomes:
·
Students will
demonstrate a working knowledge of probability
topics. This includes knowledge of theorems
with complete assumptions.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to use methods
of probability theory and perform probability
computations accurately and efficiently.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to solve
problems, including applications
outside of mathematics.
·
Students will be
able to construct simple proofs
independently.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to communicate
mathematical ideas clearly.
3.
Regular attendance
is really necessary. It is quite difficult to catch up
with the material when you miss a class. It becomes virtually impossible, if you miss several classes.
4.
A student is
supposed to spend at least two hours at home for each class hour. Thus,
you should expect spending at least 6 hours a week
(more likely about 7-8 hours) doing your homework and preparing for
quizzes/exams.
5.
This is an upper-division mathematics course, so we will be doing a
number of proofs. You will be expected to do some proofs in your homework assignments as well as during exams.
6.
We will follow
the textbook closely: C.M. Grinstead, J.L. Snell, Introduction to
Probability, Second Revised Edition (Chapters
1 - 10). The paperbound version of the text is available from the AMS Bookstore
(https://bookstore.ams.org/iprob/ ) , but the text "has now been made freely
redistributable under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
(FDL), as published by the Free Software Foundation. Briefly stated, the
FDL permits you to do whatever you like with a work, as long
as you don't prevent anyone else from doing what they like with it. This
is the same license that is used for the Wikipedia."
7.
Office hours:
|
Monday |
11:15 - 12:15 |
|
Wednesday |
1:20 - 2:20 |
|
Thursday |
12:00 - 2:00 |
|
Friday |
1:20 - 2:20 |
and
at other times, by appointment.
8.
Contact: The best way to contact me is by using e-mail (pruski@sandiego.edu).
I read e-mail many times during the day and night, except for one or two
weekends when I am out of town.
9.
A primitive
webpage for the course is at http://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m350f24.html You should
check the webpage daily for assignments, announcements, and links.
10. Homework Assignments will be assigned and collected roughly once a week. The assignments
will be graded partly on effort. The total homework assignment score
will count for 30% of the course grade. No late assignments will
be accepted unless you arrange it with me in advance.
11. There will be about 8 - 10 short quizzes. Quiz
questions will refer to the recently covered material and to the new
material you were supposed to read on your own. Two lowest quiz scores will be
dropped, and the remaining scores will count for 25% of the course
grade. Quizzes cannot be made up unless you have a valid reason for not taking
the quiz and you notify me in advance of your absence.
12. The midterm exam will take place on Friday, October 25, and its score will
count for 15% of the course grade. The exam can be made up only if you
have an actual emergency and if you notify me in advance about your
absence.
13. The final exam (Wednesday, December 18, 2:00
- 4:30) will be cumulative and its score will count for 30%
of the course grade.
14. Grading criteria are as follows:
|
Total percentage |
Grade |
|
90% and above |
A |
|
80% - 90% |
B |
|
60% - 80% |
C |
|
50% - 60% |
D |
Of
course, pluses and minuses will be used, close to cutoff
boundaries.
Based
on recent years' data my grade distributions are close to the departmental average.
15. The Mathematics and
Computer Science Department strongly promotes Academic Integrity. I hope
issues related to academic integrity will not arise in our course. There have
been some cases of cheating in math courses in the past – mainly the cases of
submitting someone else’s work as well as cases of cheating during exams.
Depending on the severity of the case, the possible consequences include: assigning the score of 0 on the given assignment,
lowering the course grade, or even assigning an F in the course. The USD academic integrity
policy can be found at https://www.sandiego.edu/conduct/documents/Honor-Code.pdf).
16.
Accommodations: Any student with a
documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations
is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All
discussions will remain confidential. A student attempting to access Disability
Services for the first time should begin by contacting the Disability and
Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC) in SH, Room 300 (619/260-4655), e-mail: disabilityservices@sandiego.edu , website: www.sandiego.edu/disability/ It is the student's responsibility to schedule
an "intake" meeting with the DLDRC Director as soon as
possible.
17.
If you feel sick, please
stay home to keep others
healthy. The following USD resources offer help to navigate the pandemic times:
·
· MyWellness Portal: https://mywellness.sandiego.edu/