2009 Fall MATH 135-01
Bulletin Course Description Probability models, random variables with discrete and continuous distributions. Independence, joint distributions, conditional distributions. Expectations, functions of random variables, central limit theorem. Instructor: Staff
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title PROBABILITY Department MATH Course Number 2009 Fall 135 Section Number 01 Primary Instructor Allard,William K Prerequisites Prerequisite: Mathematics 102, 103, or 105. Course Homepage www.math.duke.edu/~wka/math135/
Synopsis of course content
The course starts with the marbles in jars level of probability, but by the end we'll have explored a wide variety of topics in modern probability. Many people have seen continuous distributions in the form of normal (aka Gaussian, aka bell-curve) distributions. In addition to normals, we'll study uniforms, exponentials, gammas, betas, and Cauchy distributions. Discrete distributions tackled include Bernoulli, binomial, Poisson, geometric and negative binomial. A large part of the course will be the concept of conditioning: how probabilities change when additional information is introduced into a system. Also tackled are topics such as expectation and standard deviation and important theorems such as the Strong Law of Large Numbers and the Central Limit Theorem.
Textbooks
Introduction to Probability by Charles M. Grinstead
and J. Laurie Snell
It's FREE(!!!) and can be downloaded from
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/teaching_aids/books_articles/probability_book/book.html
I may also use the Schaum's College Outline of Probability and Statistics; I haven't decided yet; it costs $19.99 and
you may want to buy it whether I use it or not.
Assignments
A homework assignment will be due every week (except when breaks or midterms interfere). You may work on these assignments with other people, provided you acknowledge this when you hand it in.
Exams
There will be two midterms and a final exam. The midterms will be in class, and for each you will be allowed to use a page of notes that you write up. For the final you will be allowed two pages. Other than those pages, the tests are closed book. The final will be cumulative.
There will be a quiz every Friday.
There will be a short quiz (5 to 10 minutes) every week.
Term Papers
There will be no term papers.
Grade to be based on
Homework: 10%
Quiz: 15%
Midterm 1: 20%
Midterm 2: 20%
Final: 35%
