MATH 1070 (Spring '11)
Time & Place: MWF 12:55-1:45 p.m., JTB 130
Lecturer: Firas Rassoul-Agha
Phone: (801) 585-1647, E-Mail: firas@math.utah.edu
Office Hour: Monday 9:45-10:45 a.m. or by appointment, at LCB 209


Why statistics?
Objective: To learn very basic statistics, becoming a better informed citizen (and taxpayer and voter!),
able to read and write basic statements about data.
Textbook: The Basic Practice of Statistics, 5th edition, by David Moore
Note that lecture slides are provided and homework is webwork-based.
Thus, the textbook is only needed for extra practice, and as a reference when you want further explanation.
Also note that you can rent it at chegg.com.
Syllabus: HOMEWORK PROBLEMS, weakly schedule, powerpoint presentations, Excel exercises, etc.

RULES:

NO make-up tests or late homework. NO curve.

Two midterms count 25% each.
They are on February 28 and April 15. Same time and place as lecture.
Each midterm consists of a 50-minute in-class test. The first midterm also has a
take-home part due at the beginning of the lecture following the in-class exam.

Final counts 30% and is on Thursday May 5, 1PM till 3PM, same place as lecture.
There will be a take-home part that will be given out on the last day of class and due
on the day of the final exam.

Calculators: You will not need spreadsheets for in-class exams. Thus,
the use of laptops is NOT ALLOWED during in-class exams.
However, you will need a calculator that can do basic arithmetics (+,-,/,*).

Homework counts 20%. We will be using webwork. Though on rare occasions a question will
indicate that a hard copy of the solution needs to be submitted. You need to bring those to class
on the due date.

Here, you can track down the due dates.

On webwork, you'll see two types of sets:
  • "Homework Sets:" Homework-1, Homework-2, etc
  • "Practice Sets:" Practice-1, Practice-2, etc
    • The homework sets are the ones that are graded. The practice sets are to get more practice.
    You have only one attempt to answer each homework problem.
    So DO NOT SUBMIT an answer until you are certain you want to do that.
    On the other hand, practice problems are similar to homework ones but allow you unlimited attempts.
    AND their solutions will be posted two days before the due date of the corresponding homework set.
    Hence the name "practice"!!
    Solutions to homework sets are posted on the due date.

    Both types of sets (whethe homework or practice) have two parts:
  • "Take-Home Exam" (not all sets have those, though)
  • "In-Class Exam"

    • Take-home exam problems are taken word-for-word from Take-Home Exam Homework and Practice
    problems while In-class exam problems are taken word-for-word from In-Class Exam Homework and Practice
    ones. Therefore, the best WAY TO GET AN A in this class is to KNOW how to solve ALL
    the problems appearing in homework AND practice sets.

    SO: even though practice problems have 0 points assigned to them, they are still eligible for exam questions.
    However, they can also be used to practice before you do the other similar homework problems that
    have non-0 points.

    The take-home portion is intended to teach you how to use software. In this portion of the homework,
    you can do things by hand, use a calculator, or use a spreadsheet software. It is up to you to choose
    which way to proceed and if you want to handwrite the results or print them out.

    Here's where you can find excel files with data in them, for the homework problems. Go to the
    folder with the appropriate chapter number, then to the appropriate exercise. Sometimes, the
    exercise is not there, but that's because the data is from a table. So then look for the appropriate table.

    Excel: We will learn in class how to use Excel for computations.
    Here is an Excel tutorial. More tutorials are found in Week 2 material. However, any
    spreadsheet software will do. For example, OpenOffice is free.
    Also, it is fine if you learn on your own how to do the same with a calculator and
    use it instead of a spreadsheet.

    Excel is available in your university accounts. Please check this is the case, though!
    No prior knowledge of Excel is required. You will learn it as part of this course.
    As for computers which have Excel, there are five Macs in the lab of the
    T. Benny Rushing Mathematics Center (adjacent to the LCB and JWB).
    The Suns have OpenOffice and StarOffice, which is compatible with Excel for
    the most part. Here is a link to the various computer labs around campus.

    General advice: Do go over your homework and exams after they are graded.
    If you still don't know why an answer is wrong, ask about it.
    PLEASE, staple any hard copies you submit.
    Write your name on each page and number the pages (e.g. 1/3, 2/3, and 3/3).

    Tutoring Center: The math department offers free drop-in tutoring. The tutoring
    center is located in room 155 of the T. Benny Rushing Mathematics Center
    (adjacent to the LCB and JWB).
    For schedule and more info (e.g. private tutoring, etc), click here.

    Special accommodations: A student who wishes to request consideration for
    a disability needs to contact the Center for Disabled Student Services in Room
    160 Union. This must be done before special consideration will be given in the class.