Text: ``Probability: The Science of Uncertainty with Applications to Investments, Insurance and Engineering'' (2000 or 2009 Edition), by Michael A. Bean
Time and Place: MWF 11-12am in 154 Fleming.
Course Homepage : here
Instructor: Dr. David Blecher (Email: dblecher@math.uh.edu)
Office Hours: MWF 12-1 in 622 PGH (or call 713-743-3451 for appointment).
Prerequisites: Math 1432 (Cal II).
Grader: Qi Han (Email: kylinhan@math.uh.edu), office hours: MW 3:30-5:30 in CASA, Friday 10-11 in PGH 605).
Final exam date : In class, at end of semester.
Last day to drop the class and get a full refund, and to have the hours not count towards the Enrollment Cap for Texas Residents : September 8, at 5pm.
Last day to drop a class or withdraw: November 4, at 5pm.
Labour Day holiday : September 7.
Thanksgiving holiday : Nov 25-27 (Wednesday - Saturday).
Last day of class : Dec 4.
Welcome to the wonderful world of probability and statistics! This is a first course in these topics so that you do not need any prior knowledge in these areas (you just need Calculus II. Some knowledge of double integrals would help, but we will review this briefly). We will try to present everything in a self-contained way, but it might be very helpful to you to refresh your memory from algebra and Calculus (eg. derivatives, integrals, infinite series). We cover sample spaces, events, probabilities, Bayes theorem, random variables and their distributions, expectations, variance and covariance, basic discrete and continuous distributions, and much more. The complete syllabus is described on a separate handout. Please always bring the textbook to class, since many examples contain sample data that is not practical to write entirely on the board. I suggest using it for reading ahead, or for more explanations or proofs.
Download and study carefully the webpages describing the course syllabus, calendar, and homework assignments from here
A CRUCIAL DATE: September 8 is a critical date: if there is a good chance that you will drop the course, try to do so by this date. It is the last day to drop a course without hours counting towards the Enrollment Cap for Texas Residents. It is also the last date you can get a refund.
COURSE GRADES: the course grade consists of quizzes and homework (100 points), three semester tests (100 points each), and possibly a final exam (200 points). The instructor may change this at his discretion if doing so will benefit the class as a whole.
TESTS AND EXAM: The tests and exam will be based on the notes given in class, and on the homework. If you know that you will have to miss a test, let me know by email as soon as you know. I will need an excuse (doctors note, etc) for my records.
HOMEWORKS: There is a homework list on the course webpage, but this will certainly change (the given list has never been used and may require updating). A portion of these will be collected and graded, every week starting the second week of classes. Generally in any week, you should turn in the homework for sections finished completely the previous week, unless I or the TA tells you otherwise. We will select 2-3 problems at random to grade. Nonetheless, you should attempt ALL assigned homework problems. They are there to help you learn and INTERNALIZE the material. A lot of extra credit is built in to the homeworks, to compensate for the fact that we are grading questions at random. Thus if the possible total on any homework was 23 say, the real total will be much less than that, like maybe 15 or something. So a grade of 14/23 is really a grade 14/15, or something like that (I have not decided on the real totals yet). You are encouraged to work with others, form study groups, and so on. However you should not simply copy homework: copied homework is an infringement of academic honesty and will be penalized severely.
COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS: Please bring comments or complaints to my attention as soon as possible. Don't wait until the end of the semester to bring up a matter which we could deal with and solve early on.
INCOMPLETES: only given to students with at least a C average who are unable to take the Final for unforseeable, unpreventable, documented circumstances.
TUTORING/HELP: Help is available at several levels. Your grader and I have office hours. There are two free tutoring services. Mathlab ( (MathLab), located in 222 Garrison. MathLab has student tutors who, on a walk-in basis, offer help with individual problems. MathLab also sponsors test-preparation workshops prior to each of the examinations in the course.) You can get online help at any time http://online.math.uh.edu. There is also a tutoring service in the Social Work building. Also there are videos available covering all the prerequisite classes. You have already paid for these through your fees so use them. They're also a good `hang-out' place.