Math 160.01

R/Elements of Chance

Syllabus

Fall 2006

Instructor:  Dr. Edward C. Wallace                 Classroom:    South 336

Office:  South Hall 323B                                Office Hours:  MWThF 9:30am – 11:30am

Meeting Time:  2:30 – 3:20 MWF                  Additional hours available by appointment

Phone:  (245)  5485                                       

E-mail:  wallace@geneseo.edu                                                 

 

Overview:

            Elements of Chance represents an unconventional statistics course.  The standard introductory statistics course develops a body of statistics in a systematic way and gives some highly simplified "real-world" examples in the hope of suggesting the importance of the subject.  In this course, you will confront serious applications of probability and statistics and make these applications the focus of the course.  The principles of probability and statistics will be developed as needed to understand the issues raised by the applications.  The goal of this course is to make you better able to arrive at independent conclusions about news stories involving the elements of chance.

            This course will help you learn how to think about statistics and probability, how to identify the tools needed to study a particular problem and how to read and critically evaluate quantitative information presented in the media.  The course will require frequent reading and discussion from print media, computer activities, writing assignments, and group and individual projects. 

 

Textbook:

Interactive Statistics. 3rd Edition, Aliaga and Gunderson, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006

 

Tentative Schedule and Exam Dates - 

Unit I – What is Statistics About

               Chapters 1 – 3

               Exam Date:  22 Sept. 2006

 

Unit II – Organizing Data to Make Decisions

                Chapters 4, 5, 6

                Exam Date:  20 Oct. 2006

 

Unit III – Chance and Uncertainty

                Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10

                Exam Date:  17 Nov. 2006

 

Unit IV – Making Comparisions

                Chapters 11, 13, 14

                Exam Date:  Included on Final Exam: Friday Dec. 15  3:30pm – 6:30pm

 

 

 

 

 

Grading - Your grade in Math 160 will be based on three components:

1. Your exam average (Two in-class exams and a final exam) - 50%, 

2.  Your assignment average[1] - 25%, and 

3. Your quiz average 25%[2].  

A numerical average will be computed using the weights indicated above, and converted to a letter grade according to the scale shown below:

 

            9                      | 8                    | 7                              | 6                   |         

            98765 4|3210 | 98 | 76543 |210 | 98 | 76543 |   210        | 98765           | Below 65

            A            A-     | B+      B      B-  | C+      C       C-     | D                 |  E

 

 

 

Elements of Chance fulfils part of the College’s core numeric/symbolic reasoning requirement for general education.  You will need a class of this type to graduate from SUNY Geneseo.  If you find you are having difficulty with any of the material presented in class or encountered in the reading, please make use of my office hours.  If the hours posted conflict with your schedule, please call to make an appointment.  Please don't allow yourself to get so far behind that you put yourself at risk of failing the class. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything Seem Strange
About this???

 

 


[1]Assignments will be picked up regularly.  Assignments will consist of exercises from the textbook, reports from assigned readings, and laboratory type activities distributed in class.  Some activities will involve collaboration with other class members. 

[2]Quizzes will be given each Friday beginning Sept 1.