Instructor: Keshav P. Pokhrel Email: kpokhrel@mail.usf.edu Class Hours: MWF 12.55PM-1.45PM in CMC 118 Office Hours: MW 2:00PM 3:00 PM in CMC 368 A (Third Floor) or by appointment. Prerequisite: MAC2313 Text: Probability for Engineening, Mathematics and Science, by Chris P. Tsokos, Brooks/ Cole (ISBN-13:978-1-111-43027-6). Course Description The main objective of this course is to provide students with an introduction to probability and its applications. Basic ideas of probability and random variables, discrete probability functions, continuous probability densities, joint distributions, transformations of random variables, moments and generating functions of random variables, limit theorems. material starts on top of introduction of statistics (STA 2023) and MAC 2313, so it is expected that you are comfortable with basic statistics and calculus. We will try to spend ample amount of time in clarifying the basic concepts and in illustrating them via varieties of examples and we expect your high degree of involvement in the process. In addition, some mathematical proofs will be discusses to cover the core concepts. The Sections to be Covered 1.1-1.7, 2.1-2.8, 3.1-3.3, 4.1-4.3, 5.1-5.4, 6.1-6.8, 7.1-7.8, and 8.1*- 8.7*. Homework Homework will be assigned from each chapter. Some additional homework problems may be assigned during the class lecture based on the content of the materials. Late homework will not be accepted. The lowest homework score will be dropped. Homework will carry 10% of the total grades. Quizzes Quizzes are given at the end of the class on quiz day for about 10-15 minutes. The quizzes will be closed book and closed notes. There will be no make-up quizzes. Altogether, six quizzes will be given and the one with the lowest grade will be dropped. All quizzes together accounts for 10% of the total grades.
Exams Three closed book midterms will be conducted (20% each) and a closed book cumulative final (compulsory) in the lecture room will be given during the semester. The cumulative final will carry 20% of the total grades. The lowest midterm grade will be replaced by final. Exam Dates Midterm-I (Units 1,2,3*) Monday, September 17, 2012 * If time permits Midterm-II (Units 3, 4 and 5*) Monday, October 22, 2012 Midterm-III (Units 5, 6, 8*) Monday, November 19, 2012 FINAL (Cumulative) Monday, December 10, 2012, 8:00 PM- 10:00 PM Points Distribution Homework/Quizzes 20% Three Midterms 60% Final Exam 20% Total 100% Grades The University s +/- grading policy will be used in assigning final grades. If your overall percentage of total points (after rounding up to the nearest integer) falls into the following range, you will receive the corresponding grade: Tutoring services 97-100 A + 93-96 A 90-92 A - 87-89 B + 83-86 B 80-82 B - 77-79 C + 73-76 C 70-72 C - 67-69 D + 63-66 D 60-62 D - 0-59 F Apart from getting help from me and T.A., here is an offer too good to refuse: There is Free Tutoring in Mathematics, Statistics and Science in the Library LIB 206. The tutoring center is Open for 6 days a week except Saturdays. For hours of operation and further information call 813-974-2713 or visit: www.usf.edu/learning MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY Make-up exams will only be given for excused absences. Reasons for excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the immediate family and other documented crises, call to active military duty, court-imposed legal obligations (e.g., jury duty and subpoenas), religious days, special requirements of other courses and university sponsored events (e.g., performances, games/meets, judging trips, field trips), and severe weather conditions.
Employment schedules, family reunions, vacations and athletic training/practice schedules of students do not comprise a valid excuse for absences. Students must notify their instructors of scheduled absences (for approved reasons as noted above) at the beginning of each academic term. Pointing out specific conflicts with scheduled examinations or other scheduled assignments/activities should be part of this notification. In the event of an emergency unscheduled absence (as described above), students must contact their instructors as soon as possible and provide documentation if required. Extended illnesses may interfere with the satisfactory completion of courses, and in such cases a student should contact his or her college by the deadline to drop a course. After the drop deadline, students may submit an Academic Regulations Committee (ARC) petition with proper documentation to drop a course or withdraw for medical reasons. Students may find additional information through their college ARC representative. An instructor may determine that missing a certain amount of participation-dependent activities (whether excused or not) precludes successful accomplishment of learning outcomes. In such cases the student is advised to withdraw from the course. Learning Activities Learning is your responsibility. You are responsible for reading text, notes and attempt all the exercises assigned to you. Use the office hours fully to get assistance in the course materials provided. S-U Grade Policy Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory: Students who want to take this course for a grade of S-U must sign the S-U contract no later than the end of the third week of classes. There will be no exceptions. Courses to satisfy Gordon Rule may not be taken on an S/U basis. Required courses in the major may not be taken on an S/U basis. Courses to satisfy Foundations of Knowledge (FKL) General Education may not be taken on an S/U basis. Academic Dishonesty Instances of academic dishonesty including but not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, forgery, complicity and computer misuse will not be tolerated. The university policy on Academic Integrity is explained in the Undergraduate Catalog: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1112/pdf/academicintegrityofstudents.pdf The act of referring to unauthorized materials of any sort during a test and misusing their graphing calculators to store definitions and formulae are actions deemed as cheating and the
student will be given a grade of 0 for that grade. If such cheating occurs on the final, students will be given an F for the course. Incomplete Grade Policy An "I" grade indicates incomplete coursework and may be awarded to graduate and undergraduate students. (Undergraduate rules apply to non-degree-seeking students.) It may be awarded to an undergraduate student only when a small portion of the student's work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade (C or better). See full policy http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1112/pdf/igrade.pdf Student Disability Policy Students in need of academic accommodations for a disability may consult with the office of Students with Disabilities Services to arrange appropriate accommodations. Students may request accommodations at any point during the semester. As accommodations are not retroactive, any grades earned before a student requests accommodations will typically stand. Students are required to give reasonable notice prior to requesting an accommodation. The student must bring a current Memorandum of Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services (SVC 1133). This is a prerequisite for receiving accommodations. Exam accommodations through SDS usually require 5 (five) business days advance notice. Note: If you need extra time on exams, you must make arrangements to take your exams with the SDS office. You cannot receive extra time if you choose to take your exams with the course instructor. See Student Responsibilities - http://www.asasd.usf.edu/students.asp Foundations of Knowledge & Learning This course is part of the University of South Florida's Foundations of Knowledge and Learning (FKL) Core Curriculum. It is certified for Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning and will meet the following four dimensions: Critical Thinking, Inquiry-based Learning, Scientific Processes, and Quantitative Literacy. Students enrolled in this course will be expected to participate in the USF General Education assessment effort. This might involve answering questions that measure quantitative reasoning skills (but are not directly related to the course), responding to surveys, or participating in other measurements designed to assess the FKL Core Curriculum learning outcomes. Contingency Course Plan In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that
include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Illuminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It's the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information. Miscellaneous Policies * Please do not hold conversations, either with your classmates or your cell phones, during the lecture sessions. (Cell phones must be turned off at all times). The University policy on Disruption of Academic Process is explained in the Undergraduate Catalog http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1112/pdf/disruptionofacademicprocess.pdf * Students who must miss a class period due to a major religious observance must notify the instructor of this absence, in writing, by the end of the first week of classes. * All unauthorized recordings of class are prohibited. Recordings that accommodate individual student needs must be approved in advance and may be used for personal use during the semester only; redistribution is prohibited. Important Dates Semester: August 27 December 7 Final Exam Week: December 8- December 14 Holidays (no classes): Sept. 3, Labor Day & Nov. 12 Veteran s Day Thanksgiving Holidays (no classes): November 22 & 23 Drop/Add ends, fee liability/tuition payment deadline: August 31 Friday Last day to drop with a "W"; no refund & no academic penalty: Nov. 3 Saturday
Academic Calendar Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Fri 2 Mon 27 3 Labor Day 1 Quiz 2 5 3 Quiz 6 Wed 29 5 3 7 5 Fri 31 7 Quiz 1 5 9 Quiz 5 Mon 10 8 12 Veteran s Day Wed 12 10 14 Fri 14 12 16 Mon 17 Exam1 15 Quiz 3 19 Exam 3 Wed 19 17 21 Fri 21 19 23 Thanks Giving Mon 26 22 Exam 2 26 Wed 24 24 28 Fri 26 26 30 Mon 28 29 Wed 31 Quiz 4 7