SOUTHERNMAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Mid Coast Campus
Brunswick, Maine 04011
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Title: Statistics
Catalog Number: MATH 230
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite: MATH 140 or 145
Instructor: Joseph D. Garcia, Ph. D.
Email: joegar04553@gmail.com
Contact hours: 45
Syllabus-Statistics-MATH 230
Spring Semester 2015
Course Description
This course is designed for students with little or no experience in statistical techniques. Topics of study
include: sampling theory, exploratory data analysis, probability theory, discrete and continuous
distributions, parameter estimation, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression and correlation.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course a student shall be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identify key issues concerning the validity of documents and surveys.
Understand the methods of data collection and sampling theory.
Explore, describe and analyze data using descriptive statistics.
Understand the notions of probability.
Determine probability values under a variety of circumstances.
Understanding the essentials of discrete and continuous probability distributions and the role of
descriptive statistics in their construct.
7. Describe the characteristics of the Binomial, Hypergeometric, Poison, Normal and Student’s
t distributions.
8. Follow procedures for Confidence Interval parameter estimation and Hypothesis testing.
9. Identifying the relationship between two variables.
10. Using the relationship to create and understand Simple Linear Regression.
Course Requirements
Student are expected to attend all scheduled classes, avoid being late to class, complete all the assigned
work in a timely fashion, and be active in class participation. Student are expected to send and receive
email messages with attachments and are required to contact their instructor whenever they are absent or
anticipate being late for class.
Major components of the course include: Sampling Theory, Descriptive Statistics, Estimation Theory, Test
Theory and Simple Linear Regression and Correlation. Home assignments are aimed at providing
applications within each major area of study. Such practice will enable student’s to practice the skills
required in each unit. The student has the responsibility of keeping abreast of all presented material and
completion of all assignments. Questions about any of the materials presented are welcomed. There are no
“stupid” questions. Intellectual curiosity shown by a student is a wonderful aspect of this or any class.
Answers to odd numbered problems of textbook assignments are to be found in the back of the book.
To further facilitate the number crunching in the course, use of Microsoft Excel, Statdisk, and particularly a
graphing scientific calculator such as the TI 83 plus or TI 84 Plus are all encouraged. Any computer
printout without a full explanation of the material will not be considered as an answer to any problem.
There is an expectation that students in this class will spend at least two hours of study for every class hour.
Reading and understanding the text material is essential to success in the course. Further, homework
assignments are given as a learning tool. If there are any problems that you do not understand or have had
marked wrong on your papers, simply do them over and return the “redo” to your instructor for
re-assessment. Always include page and problem number for ease of identification.
There are many services offered in the school to help students. Tutors are available for student with
difficulties in any course. An available tutor is introduced to the class at the beginning of each semester
when possible. Tutor contact information is always available.
Upon finishing this course in Elementary Statistics, a student should posses a modicum of critical thinking.
The student should also have the statistical tools to follow on to another (4-year) college or university
demanding of a thesis. Many of the assigned graduate and undergraduate programs have thesis
requirements prior to graduation. The ability to present material and provide quantified data as
substantiation to your premise is paramount. As the old saying goes, it aint science if you cant quantify it”,
bad English, good advice.
Text, Tools and or Supplies
Textbook: Elementary Statistics Using Excel, latest edition, Mario Triola.
Calculator: TI 83 or TI 84 or equivalent.
Computer Access: A computer with Microsoft Excel installed.
Computers at SMCC open labs will have the appropriate software programs
installed. The SMCC website will list computer lab locations.
Grading:
Specific policies for grade determinations will be specified by your instructor.
Grading Scale as provided by the Southern Maine Community College Student Handbook
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-83
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
F failure
Tentative Testing Schedule
Tests are scheduled after completion of principal areas of study. There will be three minor tests
and two major summary examinations. Principal areas comprise: Exploration of Data,
Probability and Distributions, Sampling Concepts, and Inferential themes.
Grading Criteria
There are three minor tests each accounting for 5% of the final grade (15% of the total grade).
Graded homework from text assigned examples for each topic, will in aggregate, count for 25%
of the total grade. Two major exams, a review of all material to date, will each represent 30% of
the total final grade, namely mid-semester and final exam (60 % of the total grade for the course).
Note all tests will be conducted in class.
Academic Policies
Add/Drop week ends on Tuesday January 21st 100% refund period ends.
Withdrawal period ends on Monday April 14th.
Incomplete Grade: A temporary grade of “I” may be given when a student has, due to some
extraordinary circumstances, failed to complete all required course work by the end of the
semester. This assures that the student has made a consistent and persistent effort up until the
point the “circumstances” occurred and MOST of the course work has been completed.
The remaining semester’s work must be completed and a new grade submitted no later than the
mid-point of the semester following the issue of the “I” grade. An “I” grade which is not
changed by the listed deadline, will automatically become a grade of “F”.
Attendance
A student who has been absent from class for three consecutive classes without permission or
without contacting the instructor will be reported to the Registrar’s Office as having stopped
attending. This will result in the student being dropped from the course and given a failing grade
of AF. If you must miss class for any reason, contact your instructor by email.
Important note: If you decide to drop out of MATH 230, complete your paperwork and turn it in.
See the student’s handbook for other academic policies.
Non-discrimination and Disability Statements:
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and
employer. For further information, pleas call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have
reasonable access to programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the
Disability Services Coordinator, Mark Krogman, who can be reached at 207-741-5629.
End of the Semester Course Evaluation
Students may evaluate the instructor online and anonymously by going to “Resources for Current
Students” at the SMCC homepage and selecting “Evaluate Your Courses”. The online course
evaluation is available to students two weeks prior to the end date of the course. Student will not
be able to see a course grade online until the course evaluation is completed.
Chapters/Sections to be covered and homework assigned:
Unit 1: Chapters 1-3
1-1 Overview (reading)
1-2 Critical Thinking
1-3 Types of Data
1-4 Sample Data Collection
1-5 Introduction to Excel
2-1 Overview (Reading)
2-2 Frequency Distributions
2-3 Statistical Graphics
2-4 Critique of Graphs: Bad Graphing Techniques
3-1 Overview (Reading)
3-2 Measures of Central Tendencies
3-3 Measures of Variation
3-4 Relative Measures and Boxplots
Unit 2: Chapter 4
4-1 Overview (reading)
4-2 Basic Probability Concepts
4-3 Addition Rule
4-4 Multiplication Rule: Basics
4-5 Multiplication Rule: Complements and Conditional Probability
4-6 Probability Through Simulation (Monte Carlo)
4-7 Counting
Unit 3: Chapters 5 and 6
5-1 Overview (Reading)
5-2 Radom Variables
5-3 The Binomial Distribution
5-4 The Binomial Distribution Mean, Standard Deviation, and Variance
5-5 The Poisson Distribution
6-1 Overview (Reading)
6-2 The Standard Normal Distribution
6-3 Normal Distribution Applications
6-4 Sampling Distributions and Estimators
6-5 The Central Limit Theorem
6-6 A Normal Approximation to the Binomial
Unit 4: Chapters 8 and 10
8-1 Overview (Reading)
8-2 Basics of Hypothesis Testing
8-3 Testing a Claim About a Proportion
8-4 Testing A Claim about a Population Mean (Sigma known)
10-1 Overview (Reading)
10-2 Correlation
10-3 Regression