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Syllabus Mathematical Statistics (MWF 8:45-9:50) - Fall 1999

Rohr Science 220 (619) 849-2604 crowMA@ptloma.edu


Instructor:
Greg Crow, Ph.D.
Text:
Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences, 4th Ed.
Jay L. Devore
Brooks/Cole 1995



Table of Contents:

Course Description
Required Materials
Comment
Quizzes
Examinations
Grading Policies

Attendance Policy Cheating Policy
The Final Examination
Class meetings:
MWF 10:55-12:00
Office hours:
Rohr Science 220



REQUIRED MATERIALS


Comment
We will try and avoid the following pitfall:

At the beginning college level, visualization is a big part of understanding. Consequently, students who are operating with few mental pictures are not really learning mathematics. Their calculus consists of a vast series of algorithms and a complicated cataloging system which tells them which procedure is used when. The effort put into this kind of teaching and learning is largely wasted: memorized algorithms are soon forgotten and, worse still, such courses perpetuate the idea that math involves doing calculations rather than thinking [emphasis added].

(by Deborah Hughes Hallet in Visualization and Calculus Reform, in the collection Visualization in Teaching and Learning Mathematics, edited by Zimmerman and Cunningham (MAA notes \#19))


Quizzes
You are to stay on top of the material as it is presented. To encourage this scholarly activity (and attendance), eight to ten quizzes will be given on days chosen by the instructor. If a quiz is missed, it cannot be taken later. The only days that are off limits are the first day of class and exam days. Two quizzes will be dropped.


Examinations
There will one mid-term exam and a comprehensive Final exam. Each exam will consist of a take-home portion and and in class portion. The take home portion will include essay questions and Maple lab work. No examination shall be missed without an official excuse. A deduction of 2^n*10% will be deducted for each day "n" that an exam is late (n=1 if the exam is turned in the day after it is due).


GRADING POLICIES

Grading Distribution
Mid-Term Exam 300 points
Final Exam 300 points
Quizzes 100 points
Presentation 100 points
Homework 200 points
Total 1000 points

Grading scale. Grades are based on the number of points accumulated throughout the course.
Approximate minimal percentages required to obtain a given grade are:

Grading Scale in percentages
A B C D
+ (87.5, 90) (77.5, 80) (67.5, 70)
[92.5, 100] [82.5, 87.5] [72.5, 77.5] [62.5, 67.5]
- [90, 92.5)[80, 82.5) [70, 72.5) [60, 62.5)

Other factors that affect grades are





Attendance. After you miss the equivalent of 5 class periods, you will be warned of impending de-enrollment. If you miss the equivalent of 9 class periods, you will be de-enrolled.


CHEATING POLICY
A student who is caught cheating on a quiz will receive a zero on that quiz and may receive a zero for all quizzes for the semester. A student who is caught cheating on an exam will receive a zero on that exam and may receive an "F" for the semester.


THE FINAL EXAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION.


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Last modified on 21-Aug-1999
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