TQS 390 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, Spring 2009

Administrative Details

• Instructor: Paul T. Allen
• Office: GWP 414
• Phone: 253-692-4315
• Email: ptallen@u.washington.edu


• Office Hours:
  
  • Tuesdays: 10:30-11:30, 15:00-16:00
  • Thursdays: 10:30-11:30, 15:00-16:00
  In addition, I am available by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If we agree to meet by appointment, please send me an email reminder. This is especially important if we make an arrangement before or after class.


• Course meetings: 16:15 - 18:20, Tuesdays in PNK 104, Thursdays in WG 210
• Exam date: Thursday, 11 June 2009, 16:15 - 18:20, PNK 104

Course Description

• Overview
  I have two goals for this course: (1) Each student should obtain a theoretical understanding of the basic concepts of probability and statistists, along with an understanding of what, precisely, is meant by various statistical statements; and (2) Each student should leave the course with a working knowledge of how to implement statistical analysis of data.
  
  In order to achieve these goals, the course will involve both theoretical work and computational work. The theory will be based on our textbook, the second edition of Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists by Devore & Farnum. I plan to cover the following topics from the text at approximately the pace indicated.
  • Data and Distributions (§1.1-3.1), 2 weeks
  • Correlation and Best-fit curves (§3.2-3.4), 1 week
  • Multi-dimensional problems (§3.5-3.6), 1/2 week
  • Sampling (§4.1-5.6), 1.5 weeks
  • Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing (§7.1-8.3, 8.5), 2.5 weeks
  • Variation and Regression (§9.1-9.3, 11.1-11.5), 1.5 weeks
  If we stay on this schedule, this adds up to 9 weeks which gives us a small amount of wiggle room. I might try to go a bit faster at the beginning so that we can slow down when the trickier stuff comes up towards the end of the course.
  
  For computation we will be using the open source language R, which is an object-oriented programming language designed to be used in statistical analysis. A caveat: I am new to R myself. However, after talking to friends in both the financial and IT industry, it seems that getting some experience in R will be beneficial for you, the students, and so I am willing work a little extra in order to provide this experience. However, you will need to be patient and willing to work on problem-solving along side me as we learn R together.
  
  I have reserved the computer classroom WG 210 on Thursdays from 16:00-18:30; we will meet in that room on most Thursdays. The program R is available through the student share drive stushare at 'stuserv2'\_LabTemp\Paul Allen\R. You can also download R onto your personal machine or use a web-based interface. One useful resource is The R Primer, developed by Christopher Green. Another useful resource is An Introduction to R which is also available as a pdf file.


• Homework and Exams
  Each week I will assign homework. The homework will include problems from the book, as well as programming problems using R. Most of these problems are to be done for your own benefit. I will have you submit a small sampling of the homework problems on the following Thursday. The problems you submit, I will grade and return to you as promptly as possible.
  
  There will be two in-class hour-long exams and one two-hour-long final exam. Tentatively, the exams are scheduled in the third and seventh weeks of the term. I will announce each exam date in class at least one week prior to the exam.


• Grades
  Grades will be based on a percentage of points earned on coursework, weighted as follows:
  • Homework: 30%
  • Hour Exams: 40%
  • Final Exam: 30%
  I convert numerical scores to letter grades using the scale A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, etc. It is my intention that such conversion between numerical scores and letter grades be consistent with the following:
  1. Outstanding or excellent work that goes beyond analysis of course material to synthesize concepts in a valid way.
  2. Very good work that analyzes the material explored in class and includes a reasonable attempt to synthesize that material.
  3. Adequate work that satisfies the requirements of each assignment and includes a limited analysis of material explored in class.
  4. Passing work that is minimally adequate and raises serious concern about readiness to continue in the field.
  5. Failing work that is inadequate, and unworthy of credit.
  
  In keeping with my desire to assign grades based upon these descriptions, I reserve the right to adjust your grade, at my discretion, based upon class attendance, signs of improvement, inconsistent coursework (such as disregarding a score which significantly differs from all others), or other factors.

Homework Assignments & Course Documents

Resources and Links for R, etc.

• The R Project
• The R Primer, developed by Christopher Green
• An Introduction to R which is also available as a pdf file
• One R Tip A Day
• R Mailing List Archive If you have a question, there is a good chance someone else has wondered about that very thing as well - look for answers here, or post a question to the list.
• A very short and simple R tutorial (Thanks to Gary for pointing this out.)

Statements from Student Health and Wellness

• Statement from the Counseling Center
  The Counseling Center offers short-term, problem-focused counseling to UW Tacoma students who may feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of college, work, family, and relationships. Counselors are available to help students cope with stresses and personal issues that may interfere with their ability to perform in school. The service is provided confidentially and without additional charge to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. To schedule an appointment, please call 692-4522 or stop by the Student Counseling Center (SCC), temporarily located in Cherry Parkes 206. Additional information can also be found by visiting http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/studentaffairs/SHW/scc_about.cfm/


• Statement from Disability Support Services
  The University of Washington Tacoma is committed to making physical facilities and instructional programs accessible to students with disabilities. Disability Support Services (DSS) functions as the focal point for coordination of services for students with disabilities. In compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any enrolled student at UW Tacoma who has an appropriately documented physical, emotional, or mental disability that "substantially limits one or more major life activities [including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working]," is eligible for services from DSS. If you are wondering if you may be eligible for accommodations on our campus, please contact the DSS reception desk at 692-4522, or visit http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/studentaffairs/SHW/dss_about.cfm/