Class Times: TR 2:30-3:45 pm                                                          Room:    Computer Lab-C243 

      Instructor Dr. Sayeed Payesteh                                                     Office:    C-211

      Phone: 3655                                                                                         Hours:    M 10:00-Noon

                                                                                                                                 TR 12-2:15 pm

      e-mail: sayeed.payesteh@uwc.edu

 

Course Requirements

Objectives

This course introduces basic statistical techniques and the statistical reasoning useful for business applications. Specific topics covered in the course are listed in the Course Timetable.  Understanding the mechanics of the basic probability and statistical methods is essential; however, the course is not further exercises in numerical evaluation of tedious algebraic expressions that can be done easily with a pocket calculator or a computer.  The emphases of this course are:

  • Statistical reasoning: to develop skill in statistical reasoning and to learn the strengths and limitations of basic statistical techniques.
  • Application: to recognize the appropriateness of basic statistical techniques for solving business problems and to set up and solve simple "real‑world" problems and interpret the results.
  • Preparation:  to prepare for courses in the Business/Economics that requires statistical reasoning and methodology.

 

Required material

·         Textbook:  Moore, D.S. McCabe, G. P., Duckworth, W. M., and Sclove, S. L.  The Practice of Business Statistics: Using Data for Decisions, Freeman Pub. 2003.

·         Calculator: A simple calculator that computes mean and standard deviation

Class Participation

Participation in class is an important part of your learning experience.  Regular attendance is expected along with active class participation. . Reading the assigned material before class and completing assigned homework on time will help you to get the most out of your experience in this class. 

 

Class discussion quizzes will be given on a regular basis in the class.  Students will form 2-person teams to work on these quizzes (3 in exceptional cases). A number of these quizzes will be collected to reward points for active class participation as shown in the table below. 

Minimal attempt

2 point

About one-half of the problems completed with solutions shown/explained

4 points

Most of the problems completed with solutions shown/ explained

8 points

All problems completed with solutions shown/explained

10 points

 

The quizzes will be discussed during the lecture.  Solutions will not be posted.  Some of the points on each exam will be given to questions very similar to the quizzes. Quizzes done by a one and/or more than 3 persons will not be given credit.

 

Student Responsibilities

This course is challenging. Each student is responsible for his/her learning. If a section of the textbook and/or a homework problem is puzzling you, it is your responsibility to make an appointment to see me. You are encouraged to ask questions during class and office hours. 

 

Classroom Conduct

Please turn off cell phones and any audible device during classes.  Please do not hold private conversations during class.  It is distracting to both the instructor and to the other students in the class. Likewise, walking in very late and leaving before the class has ended besides of the detrimental effect on the learning of the student engaging in these behaviors, impede the learning of all students in the lecture. 

Computer Requirements

Knowledge of a statistical package is an indispensable part of the modern statistics.  My class presentations, some homework assignments, and the exams are all computer based.  I use the statistical package MINITAB in the class for exploring statistical concepts and demonstrating statistical analysis of actual data useful for business decisions. No previous knowledge of the package for this class is assumed.  In the class, you should focus on the data analysis and the concepts that I present rather than on the way that I generate MINITAB outputs. 

 

Video Programs

Programs from the video series Against All Odds: Inside Statistics (produced by the Consortium of Mathematics and Its Applications in association with the American Statistical Association and American Society for Quality Control under an Annenberg Foundation/Corporation for Public Broadcasting Project) will be shown in the class. These programs demonstrate interesting examples of basic probability and statistics in everyday use. Each program will be followed by a brief class discussion.

 

Assignments

Assignments include reading the text and completing the homework problems.

1.        Read the assigned sections prior to the class.

2.        Homework problems will be collected at the beginning of the class on the due date.  Working with other students on the assignments is highly recommended.  The TAs will grade homework assignments as follows. A randomly selected problem in each set will be graded on a 3-point scale for correctness. Then, the remaining problems will be graded mostly for completion.  Based on completion of all other problems, an additional 7 points will be awarded. So, each homework assignment can earn the student 10 points. Please note that receiving a complete score of 10 does not necessarily mean that all of your solutions are correct. You should check your solutions with me.  Late assignments will not be given full credit.

Exams and grading

Midterm exams

Three midterm exams and an optional make-up exam will be given in the class on the dates shown below. 

      Exam 1                                                                         Feb. 13

      Exam 2                                                                         March 15

Exam 3                                                                         Apr. 26

 

The exams are cumulative and closed book/notes. However, you will be allowed to use one sheet (8½ x 11) of notes. Your notes should only include formulas and/or definitions.  Document containing solutions to problems (examples, homework, computer output, etc.) are not allowed.  Some of the points on each exam will also be given to questions very similar to the homework problems. 

Make-up exam Policy      

Rules for the make-up exam are the same as the midterm exams. Eligibility for taking the make-up exam will be established based on official medical documents. Make-up exam will not be given without a prior arrangement with me.

Final exam:  May 15 (2:00-3:45 pm)

The exam is cumulative and closed book/notes. You will be allowed to use one sheet (8½ x 11) of notes.  Your notes should only include formulas and/or definitions. Document containing solutions to problems (examples, homework, computer output, etc.) are not allowed.   Make-up exam will not be given without a prior arrangement with me.

                                                                                                                                          Grading Scale

Grading

 

Score

 

Grade

94 – up    

A

90 - < 94      

A-

87 - < 90     

B+

84 - < 87       

B

80 - < 84       

B-

75 - < 80       

C+

70 - < 75      

C

65 - < 70      

C-

60 - < 65      

D+

55- < 60       

D

50 - < 55       

D-

       < 50       

F

      Homework Assignments                              10%                                                       

      Quizzes                                                            10%

      Midterm Exams (3@20%)                              60%

      Final Exam                                                       20%

 

     


Course Timetable

Note:   This timetable is tentative and may be updated during the semester.  Updates will be announced in the class.

Instructions for assignments

1.        Read the assigned sections before the class dates shown in the first column of the timetable.

2.        Homework is due at the beginning of your class on the due dates shown in the last column of the timetable.

3.        Show your work. Credit will not be given for an answer without a clear indication as how it is obtained.

4.        Presentation of a statistical analysis is an important task. Write your name on a cover page; staple all pages.  Edit (cut and paste) and annotate the computer outputs. Messy products will not be graded.

 

Dates

Sections

Topics

Problems

Due

1/23

1/25

Preface

1.1

1.2

 

Introduction to the course, requirements, policies

Displaying Distribution with Graphs

Distribution with Numbers

 

 

1.2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20, 26, 87

1.40, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 86, 89, 92

1/30

 

1/30

2/1

1.3

 

Examining Distributions: The Normal Distribution

 

1.62, 64, 65, 66, .68, 79, 81, 82 , (1.83 Use Minitab-Normality Test)

2/6

 

2/6

2/8

 

2.1- 2.2

2.5

 

Examining Relationships: Scatter plots, Correlation

Examining Relationships: Relations in Categorical Data

2.7, 15, 21, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30,  31, 32, 33, 34

2.82, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

2/13

 

2/13

 

 

Exam 1

 

 

2/15

3.1, 3.3

Designing Samples, simple random sample, Parameter, Statistic, Sampling Variability, Sampling Distribution

3.2, 3.5 3.12, 3.58, 3.67, 3.68

2/20

2/20

2/22

4.1, 4.2

5.1, 5.4

Randomness, Probability Models

General Probability Rules, Conditional Probability

4.12, 16, 20, 21, 32, 34, 36

5.3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 60, 61

2/27

2/27

3/1

4.3

4.4

Random Variables

The Sampling Distribution of a Sample Mean, Central Limit Theorem

4.38, 41, 46, 56, 71, 74, 75, 111, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118,

4.94, 95, 97, 100, 108, 109

3/6

3/6

3/8

5.2

5.3

Binomial Distributions

Poisson Distributions

5.26, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 42,

46, 48

3/13

3/13

 

Review

 

 

3/15

 

Exam 2

 

 

3/19

3/23

 

Spring Recess

 

 

3/27

3/29

6.1

Confidence Intervals

6.10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21,  27, 28

4/3

4/3

4/5

6.2, 6.3

 

Test of Significance, z test for the Mean, P-value

6.31, 41, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 58, 61, 67, 71, 73, 96

4/10

4/10

4/12

 

7.1

7.2

7.3

Inference for the Mean of a Population

Comparing Two Means,

Inference for the Population Spread

7.17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25

7.77, 78, 79, 91 (use Minitab)

4/17

 

4/17

4/19

8.1-8.2

9.1, 9.2

Inference for Proportions

Inference for Two-Way Tables

8.17, 8.18, 8.25, 8.42

9.10, 9.12, 9.18

4/24

4/24

 

Review

 

 

4/26

 

Exam 3

 

 

5/1

 

2-3-2.4

 

Regression line

2.46, 2.47, 2.50

5/3

 

5/3

5/ 8

10.2-10.3

Analysis of Regression Model with One Predictor Continued

 

10.5,  18,  26, .30,  33,  40,  41, 43, 44

5/8

5/15

Tuesday

Final Exam (2:00-3:45) in the Computer lab (C-243)