Math 141: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
This course will cover data analysis and statistical inference, and
some basics of probability. It will be focused on statistical modeling
of real world phenomena. The course has two components:
lecture/discussion and lab. The lecture/discussion meetings will take
place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:00-12:50pm in Eliot 314. The
labs are scheduled for Tuesdays in ETC 211. Note: there are only 15
computers in the lab; feel free to bring your laptop.
Coursework
There will be regular homework and/or lab assignments, occasional
quizzes (no midterm), and a final exam. Homework and labs are 50% of
the final grade, quizzes are 20% and the final exam is 30%. The
computer lab assignments will be data analysis or simulation exercises.
Weekly assignments and labs will normally be due during the lab
sessions on Tuesdays. Late work will lose 10% credit per day. For
example, if you turn in your homework two days late and earn 25/30,
your recorded score will be 20/30.
I encourage students to discuss problems in broad, conceptual terms and
to work together on homework and labs. However, any work turned in must
be your own.
We will be using the interactive statistical computing and graphics
software package R, which runs on the Macs in ETC 211. It is free
software, so you can install a copy on your own personal computer at no
cost from the R website: http://www.r-project.org.
Instructions on how to install R can be found in the textbook. We will
cover the essentials of R in the lab sessions.
Extra references for R on reserve in the library:
Introductory Statistics with R,
Peter Dalgaard, 2002 Modern Applied Statistics with S-Plus,
W. N. Venables and B. D. Ripley, 1999 Using R for Introductory Statistics,
John Verzani, 2005
Instructor
Stacey Hancock
email:
shancock@reed.edu
Office:
Library 313
Phone:
459-4624
Office hours:
• Mon 3-4pm,
Tue 2-3pm, Fri 1-2pm
• Also available by appointment or email.