Math 138-Spring 2002

Meeting Times:

MTThF 11:30-12:20 in CLN 324

Instructor:

Michael Drinen
(office: CLN 304, phone: x5454, email:mdrinen@willamette.edu)

Office Hours:

I am almost always in my office from 9 to 10 and after 2:40 on days when we have class. You can drop by then or talk to me after class about arranging to meet me at another time.

Text:

The Basic Practice of Statistics Moore

Course Description:

Webster's dictionary defines statistics as ``a branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data''. There are many subjects, from biology to politics, which rely on numerical data to make conclusions about the world and statistics provides them with the language and the tools necessary to deal with all of their data. Also, a little knowledge of the basic ideas of statistics can help us to understand the numerical data that we encounter in the news.

In this course we will start with the analysis and presentation of data. If we have a mass of data, how can we get a handle on it? How can we summarize it or find patterns in it? Once we have some understanding of how to deal with and talk about large masses of data, we will move on to learn about how to reliably collect data and how we can use those data to draw conclusions about the things that they describe.

Calculators and Computers:

Dealing with large masses of numbers can get quite tedious. Computers and calculators can take care of most of the tedious work for you and leave you to think about what the numbers tell you. For this class you will need a calculator which has a fair number of statistical functions, TI 83's are the best for statistics but most new graphing calculators will have what you need. Talk to me if you are not sure.

We will also spend some class time in the computer labs. Spreadsheet programs such as Excel have a lot of statistical functions. In the long run computers are more powerful and flexible than calculators, so knowing a little bit about what they can do will serve you well.

Homework, Tests, and All That:

I will assign homework problems which you should look over carefully, but which will not be collected. The quiz problems will be closely related the suggested homework problems.

We will spend a lot of class time working in small groups, the results of this group work will be collected and graded. Also, there will be computer labs from time to time, these will involve turning in some spread sheets.

There will be a project at the end of of the semester. It will give you a chance to look in a problem in more depth and to practice carefully presenting and explaining your work.

There will be a quiz every Friday on which there is not a midterm. This is to provide both you and me with continual feedback on how the class is going. There will be three midterm tests on the following dates: February 8, March 8, and April 12.

There will be cumulative final exam at the end of the semester. It will be at the officially scheduled final time.

You can make up a test ONLY if you have a compelling and well documented reason for missing it. You can make up a quiz only if you tell me ahead of time that you are going to miss it. Also, your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

The above factors will count toward your final grade as follows:

Final:	100 points
Midterms:	50 points each
Quizzes:	75 points
Project:	50 points
In class work and computer labs:	125 total points
total	500 points

When ever I return an assignment or test I will tell you the cut offs for A-, B-, and C- for that piece of work. The overall cutoffs for your final grade will be the sum of the cutoffs for each assignment or test. The cutoffs will always be at least 90%=A-, 80%=B-, and 70%=C-, but they will often be lower than that.

Here are some links with information about calculators

• Professor Janeba has several calculator help files on his web page.
• If you have a TI-86 you should go here to download the stats package. From this page you can download the stats package and it's manual, the computer outside my office is set up to transfer files to TI calculators, find me in my office if you have trouble getting it to work..

First Homework Assignment:

Read section 1.1. Do problems 1.1-1.16. This includes many ``apply your knowledge'' problems throughout the section.

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