Welcome to Probability Theory! For course info and policies, please see the syllabus. For grades, log into Moodle. If you need help or have questions, please contact Prof. Wright.
Prof. Wright's drop-in hours: typically Mon. 1–2pm, Tues. 1:30–2:30pm, Wed. 11am–noon, Thurs. 10–11am, and Fri. 9–10am in RMS 405. Check Google Calendar for up-to-date availability, or email to schedule an appointment.
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Friday
September 8
September 8
Introduction; what is probability?
Do the following before next class:
- Complete the Introductory Survey, if you haven't done so already.
- Read the Syllabus.
- From the textbook, read §1.1 and §1.2, at least through page 10, and watch the accompanying video Sample Spaces, Events, and Axioms. Answer the three questions embedded in the video before class on Monday. The first time you access videos for this course, you might need to use the "Panopto Course Videos" link on the MATH 262 Moodle page.
- Take a look at Homework 1, which is due Wednesday.
Monday
September 11
September 11
Sample spaces and events; axioms of probability
Do the following before next class:
- Complete Homework 1 (due Wednesday).
- Read §1.3 in the textbook, and watch the accompanying video Counting Methods. Answer the three questions embedded in the video before class on Wednesday.
Bonus video: Paths to Math: John Urschel
- Begin Homework 2 (due Monday).
- Watch the video Four Types of Couting Problems and answer the questions embedded in the video before class on Friday.
Friday
September 15
September 15
More counting methods
Do the following before next class:
- Review the solutions to the problems from class.
- Finish Homework 2 (due Monday).
- Watch the video Conditional Probability and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Monday. Also read the examples in §1.4 in the textbook.
Bonus video: Eugenia Cheng on The Late Show
Do the following before next class:
- Begin Homework 3 (due Friday).
- Watch the video Independence and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Wednesday. Also read §1.5 in the textbook.
Wednesday
September 20
September 20
Independence
Do the following before next class:
- Finish Homework 3 (due Friday).
- Watch the video Simulation of Random Events and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Friday. Also read §1.6 in the textbook.
- If possible, bring a computer with Mathematica or R to class on Friday.
Do the following before next class:
- Watch the video Discrete Random Variables and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Monday. Also read §2.1 and §2.2 in the textbook.
- Begin Homework 4 (due Wednesday).
Monday
September 25
September 25
Random variables; discrete distributions
Bonus: Why is Mathematics Useful — Robert Ghrist, and Applied Dynamical Systems Vol. 1
Do the following before next class:
- Review the solutions to the problems from class.
- Watch the video Expected Value and Standard Deviation and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Wednesday. Also read §2.3 in the textbook.
- Finish Homework 4 (due Wednesday).
Do the following before next class:
- Review the solutions from the problems in class, especially those involving Chebyshev's Inequality.
- Watch the video The Binomial Distribution and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Friday. Also read §2.4 in the textbook.
- Begin Homework 5 (due Monday).
- Read the Exam 1 Information. Begin reviewing what you learned from Chapter 1 in our textbook.
Friday
September 29
September 29
Binomial distribution
Do the following before next class:
- Watch the video The Poisson Distribution and answer the questions embedded in the video before coming to class on Monday. Also read §2.5 in the textbook.
- Finish Homework 5 (due Monday).
- Read the Exam 1 Information. Study for the exam.
Do the following before next class:
- Review the problems and solutions from class.
- Complete Homework 6. This homework will not be collected, but it is important for your own practice as you prepare for Exam 1.
- Review the Exam 1 Information.
Complete the take-home exam problems. Bring your solutions to the in-class exam on Friday.
Friday
October 6
October 6
Exam 1: covering sections 1.1 through 2.4 in the textbook
Do the following before next class:
Monday
October 9
October 9
Hypergeometric distribution
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
October 11
October 11
Negative binomial and geometric distributions
Do the following before next class:
Friday
October 13
October 13
Moment-generating functions
Homework 7
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Have a great Fall Break! No class October 16.
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
October 18
October 18
Moment-generating functions
Do the following before next class:
Friday
October 20
October 20
Simulation of discrete random variables
Homework 8
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Monday
October 23
October 23
Continuous random variables; uniform distribution
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
October 25
October 25
Expected values of continuous distributions
Homework 9
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Friday
October 27
October 27
Normal distribution
Do the following before next class:
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
November 1
November 1
Gamma distribution
Do the following before next class:
Friday
November 3
November 3
Transformations of continuous random variables
Homework 11
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Monday
November 6
November 6
Simulation of continuous random variables
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
November 8
November 8
Review day
Homework 12
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Complete the take-home exam problems. Bring your solutions to the in-class exam on Wednesday.
Friday
November 10
November 10
Exam 2: covering sections 2.1 through 3.7 in the textbook
Monday
November 13
November 13
Joint distributions
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
November 15
November 15
Expected values, covariance, and correlation
Do the following before next class:
Friday
November 17
November 17
Linear combinations of random variables
Homework 13
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Monday
November 20
November 20
Properties of linear combinations
Have a great Thanksgiving! No class November 22 or 24.
Do the following before next class:
Monday
November 27
November 27
Conditional distributions and expectation
Homework 14
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
November 29
November 29
Limit theorems
Do the following before next class:
Do the following before next class:
Monday
December 4
December 4
Transformations (cdf method)
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
December 6
December 6
Bivariate tranformation theorem
Homework 16
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Do the following before next class:
Friday
December 8
December 8
Order statistics
Do the following before next class:
Monday
December 11
December 11
Review day
Homework 17
due at 5pm
due at 5pm
Complete the take-home exam problems. Bring your solutions to the in-class exam on Friday. Study for the in-class exam.
Friday
December 15
December 15
Final Exam 9:00–11:00am
