MATH 314: Syllabus

MATH 314-01 Probability and Statistics for Science and Technology

Holt Hall 291

MTWTh 1 - 1.50pm

Contact Information

Edward A. Roualdes (call me Edward)

email: eroualdes@csuchico.edu

Office hours:

Course Description

Basic concepts of probability and statistics with emphasis on models used in science and technology. Probability models for statistical estimation and hypothesis testing. Confidence limits. One- and two-sample inference, simple regression.

Student Learning Objectives/Goals

Textbook

We will largely follow the content of the freely available (PDF) book

Probability and Statistics - The Science of Uncertainty, Second Edition

If you would like to buy a book, please consider any one of the following:

Additional Requirements

Access to a laptop will be essential to master the material of this course. If you don’t have immediate and consistent access to a laptop, please speak to me as soon as possible.

We will learn to code in Python using Jupyter notebooks, both Python and Jupyter notebooks are free, open-source software.

Content Delivery

Lectures are in person at the times listed above. No recordings will be available. As Gil Scott-Heron says, the revolution will not be televised; this class will be live. Or maybe you prefer it's all the way live.

All course materials will be posted to my website: roualdes.us/teaching/314

Course Communication

The absolute best place to ask a question is during lecture. I understand, though, that not all students feel comfortable asking questions publicly.

If you prefer more private and in person communication, come to office hours.

If you prefer written and identifiable communication, email me at eroualdes@csuchico.edu. If your questions become too complex for email, as judged by me, I reserve the right to ask you to come visit my office to receive your answers in person.

If for any reason I need to address everyone in the course, I will send you an email to your student email account, eg you@csuchico.edu.

Course Grading

Your final grade for this course will be given according to the +/- grading systems, based on the following percentages and scale: 90 to 100, A; 80 to <90, B; 70 to <80, C; 60 to <70, D; <60, F.

Component Percentage
Homework 20%
Quizzes 40%
Tests: 2 @ 20% each 40%

Grades will be posted to a shared (between me and each of individually and exclusively) Google Sheets file. Access is only granted to your@csuchico.edu account.

So long as you understand the Academic Integrity Policy below, I encourage you to use large language models, like ChatGPT, to help you learn. However, I refuse to grade AI slop. If I judge the content of your work to be AI slop, I reserve the right to give you a failing grade on that assignment. You can meet me in office hours to try to defend your case.

Homework

All homework must be created using Jupyter notebooks, which are then to be shared with me via git and private shared GitHub repositories that I will create.

You can submit late homework for a maximum of 50%.

You can re-submit, one time, a homework that was previously submit on time after it was graded for up to 50% of your missed points back. Think of this as an attempt to correct some of your less-than-correct solutions. As an example, if you earned 80% on a Homework, you can re-submit once this Homework with updated answers for a maximum of 10% added to your original score. Thus, you could obtain 90% on a homework for which you originally earned 80%.

Quizzes

Quizzes serve two purposes. First, quizzes ensure you are learning things, separate from what you have convinced a large language model to produce for a homework assignment. Second, quizzes ensure you are regularly attending class.

Quizzes will be either pen and paper or on your computer, so please bring a pen and paper, and computer, to every class. In general, quizzes will not necessarily be announced nor scheduled. I reserve the right to hold a quiz for any of the following reasons:

Quizzes can not be taken after they were assigned. I'll drop the lowest 5 quiz grades when calculating your final grade.

Exams

There will be a mid-term and a final. Both will be taken via pen and paper.

I will write questions based on a prompt and some Python code. You will to respond to the prompt, possibly reading and/or writing some Python code.

Diversity Poligy

Respect: Students in this class are encouraged to speak up and participate during class meetings. Because the class will represent a diversity of individual beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences, every member of this class must show respect for every other member of this class (this includes me).

Academic Integrity Policy

Students are permitted and encouraged to collaborate on all assignments other than quizzes and tests. However, each student must turn in their own work. I even encourage you to learn from GPT (or another LLM of your choice). However, each student must turn in their own work. Your own work is not produced by any LLM. Submitting work that is even suspected to be not yours will be met with an immediate 0% grade. Repeated submission of not your own work will be dealth with as cheating, as described below.

Further, it is the expressed expectation of this instructor that all students demonstrate integrity and individual responsibility in all actions related to this course. Unethical behavior of any kind is unacceptable and will be prosecuted vigorously. Any sign of cheating in any way on any course assignment will be addressed directly, according to University standards. If you do not understand what plagiarism is, or what cheating entails, you must seek information regarding this matter from the current University Catalog and from me. The consequences of plagiarism begin with a failing grade on the work, and possibly a failing grade in the course, depending upon University action. More information is found on the Student Rights And Responsibilities campus webpage.

Disability Support

If you have any disability related needs, please contact Disability Support Service (Colusa Hall 898-5959 or campus information 898-INFO for directions) on campus to obtain the appropriate documentation. Afterwards, email me to identify your needs within the first two weeks of class so that any necessary arrangements can be made.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct with the University. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the Counseling and Wellness Center (898-6345) or Safe Place (898-3030). Information on campus reporting obligations and other Title IX related resources are available at www.csuchico.edu/title-ix.

Course Content