Northern Virginia Community College
MTH 241 -- Section 003A
Statistics I (3 credits)
Lecture Location: Bisdorf (AA) Room 355
Instructor: Neha Jain
Phone: (703)-845-6515
E-mail: njain@nvcc.edu
Office Hours: T (4:30 pm – 7:30 pm); W (2:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Office Hours (by appointment): M (4:00 pm – 4:30 pm); W (2:00 pm – 2:30 pm); R (1:00 pm –
3:00 pm)
ACE Math Center: M (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Course Prerequisites: A satisfactory score on an appropriate proficiency examination and MTH
152 (Mathematics for the Liberal Arts) or MTH 163 (Precalculus I) or MTH 182 (Finite
Mathematics II) or permission from the Science, Technology, and Business Division
Course Description: This course covers descriptive statistics, elementary probability,
probability distributions, estimation, and hypothesis testing
Course Purpose: Provide you with the necessary abilities in statistics and probability to
understand the results of statistical studies and to perform descriptive and basic inferential
statistical studies within your areas of interest.
Course Objectives: As a result of the learning experience in this course, you should be able to:
 Organize raw data into a frequency distribution
 Compute measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and interpret the results
 Compute measures of variation (variances, standard deviations, quartiles) and interpret the
results
 Identify and graph symmetric and asymmetric distributions
 Compute standard scores
 Define the concept of probability
 Compute probabilities of unions, intersections, and complements
 Distinguish between the concepts of independent events and mutually exclusive events
 Identify independent events and dependent events
 Compute conditional probabilities
 Compute probabilities with binomial and normal distributions
 Determine probability distributions using random numbers
 Explain the differences between population means and variances and sample means and
variances
 Compute confidence intervals
 Formulate null and alternative hypotheses
 Compare and contrast z-tests and t-tests
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Identify Type I and Type II errors
Use graphing calculator to calculate sample means, standard deviation, and confidence
intervals
Use MS Excel to create appropriate graphs
Textbook:
Elementary Statistics, A Step by Step Approach, 8th Edition, by Allan G. Bluman
Graphing calculators are required in this course; I strongly recommend a TI-83 or 84.
Microsoft Excel will be used to do several homework assignments.
Chapter Coverage:
Chapter 1: 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5
Chapter 2: 2.1,2.2,2.3
Chapter 3: 3.1, 3.2,3.3
Chapter 4: 4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,4.5
Chapter 5: 5.1,5.2,5.3,
Chapter 6: 6.1,6.2,6.3,6.4
Chapter 7: 7.1,7.2
Chapter 8: 8.1,8.2,8.3,8.6
Chapter 9: 9.1,9.2
Attendance: Absences affect the final grade as follows:
0
+2
1
+1
2
0
3
-1
4
-2
5
-3
In reality, a student who misses even a few days puts himself or herself at a severe disadvantage.
Significant content is covered each period. The class experience itself is as important as the end
result. You are responsible for all material covered and work assigned during an absence.
Withdrawal: September 10 is the last day to drop the class with a tuition refund or change the
class to audit. October 31 is the last day to withdraw without a grade penalty. You can withdraw
by October 31 without my approval by going to MyNOVA and withdrawing yourself from the
course and receive a W grade. After October 31, withdrawal with a W grade will only be
considered under extreme circumstances and you must request a withdrawal in writing with
verifiable justification or documentation. Your request would need to be approved by the Dean
of the Science, Technology, and Business Division
Grading: You will be graded on the following components:
1. Homework -- 20%
2. Three Tests -- 40%
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3. Quizzes -- 20%
4. Final Exam -- 20%
Homework: Homework will be assigned for each chapter.
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No late Homework Assignments will be accepted
No Unstapled Assignment will be accepted
You are required to write neatly and systematically. If I cannot read it, I
cannot grade it.
Please check Blackboard for due dates of next homework assignments.
Three Tests: There will be three tests during the semester. NO MAKE UPS ALLOWED. Any
test not taken will get a zero. The lowest test grade will be replaced by your grade on the finals. .
Example: If you have 60% on Test 3 and it is your lowest test grade during the semester and you
made 80% on your final exam, then I will change your grade of 60% on Test 3 to 80%!
Test date will be announced one week in advance.
Quizzes: There will be on an average one quiz two weeks. There will be no make ups for the
quizzes. Quizzes not taken will get a zero. Lowest two quiz grades will be dropped.
Final Exam: The cumulative (material from the whole semester) final exam is worth 20% of
your grade. The final must be taken to pass the course
Grades: In general, 90%-100% is an A, 80%-89% is a B, 70%-79% is a C, 60%-69% is a D, and
below 60% is a F. I reserve the right to lower the curve, but I will not raise the curve.
Scoring for HW/Tests/Quizzes/Finals: Credit will be based on completeness and process, in
addition to answers. You must show your work, or explain your process in addition to giving an
answer. When in doubt write more than you feel is necessary. Imagine that I am an extremely
slow learner with no previous knowledge of the subject. Partial credit may be given if the
process is correct but answer is incorrect. No partial credit will be given if no work is shown. An
assignment that is just a list of answers will receive no credit.. Students will be expected to
complete assignments on time, whether or not they attended class on a specific day.
Special Needs: Please see me at the beginning of the semester about any special needs or
accommodations. If you are seeking an accommodation based on a disability, you must provide
a disability data sheet, which can be obtained from the counselor for special needs, who is
located in Bisdorf (AA) 229 and can be reached at (703) 933-1840. For more information go to
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/disability-services/index.html
Getting Help:
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1) Email your questions to njain@nvcc.edu. I will reply as soon as I can, usually within 24
hours.
2) Free Mathematics Tutoring services are provided at the Math Lab in AA 161 at the
Alexandria Campus. Their phone number is 703-845-6151 and their website is:
http://www.nvcc.edu/campuses-and-centers/alexandria/campus-resources/academiccenter/mathlab.html Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.; Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m.; and Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3) Come during my Office Hours
I recommend you use all available resources and get help early, and often. Do not wait until you
are failing!
NOTE: The professor reserves the rights to make merited exceptions to the policies presented
judged on a case by case basis or change any item in this syllabus, with proper notice given to
the students, as a result of changes in conditions from those anticipated at the beginning of the
semester.
Classroom Courtesy
In every classroom the needs of the individual must be balanced with the needs of the group.
Because we come from diverse backgrounds, we do not always have identical expectations or
understanding of appropriate classroom behavior. What follows is a set of courtesies to observe
in the classroom, to maintain the balance.
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Arrive to class on time. If you are unavoidable late, please proceed to your seat quietly.
Do not expect the class to stop while you get caught up.
Students who are more than 5 minutes late will be marked absent. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Every time a student is caught text messaging or talking on a cell phone, 3 points will be
deducted from the next test grade. Cell Phones , beepers, etc should be turned off or set
on no sound
Be prepared for class. Bring text, notebook, pen or several sharpened pencils. Do not get
up during class to sharpen your pencil.
Take care of personal needs before class. In extreme emergencies if you must leave class
do so, and return with as little disruption as possible.
No eating or drinking is allowed in the classroom. Water in closed bottles ok.
Personal issues – attendance problems, grades, etc should not be raised during class time.
See the instructor before or after class or during office hours.
Pay attention in class. Only one person should be speaking at a time. Do not talk to
classmates when instructor or a classmate is speaking or asking a question. Do not do
homework from this or another class. You may miss an important point. .
Any behavior that is distracting to any member of the class is inappropriate.
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Inappropriate language will not be tolerated. This includes blasphemy, vulgarity and
derogatory comments of any sort.
If you must leave class early (rarely- in an unavoidable or emergency situation) it is
polite to inform the instructor in advance, if possible.
If you must be absent
o Notify instructor by email (preferably) or voicemail
o Check with a classmate for notes and assignments.
o You are responsible for obtaining all missed class notes,
assignments and handouts.
o Get tutoring from math lab or during instructor’s office hours if
necessary
There is a direct correlation between attendance and grades.
Students will be expected to complete assignments on time, whether or not they attended
class on a specific day. Missed tests/quizzes cannot be made up.
Keep a record of your own grades. Check this with your instructor from time to time.
Make sure you understand the grading policy.
Do not ask for extra credit work. This is especially true for those with attendance
problems, or missing assignments. Any extra work allowed will be offered to the entire
class at the instructor’s discretion.
Cheating in any form is prohibited. Please be sure you understand what plagiarism and
unauthorized collaboration are. The consequence of cheating, (giving or receiving help
on quizzes or exams), will result in failure of the course.
Partial credits for a problem if granted will be decided by the instructor.
DO NOT WRITE ON YOUR GRADED TESTS OR QUIZZES. I make random copies
of your work.
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Tentative Class Schedule
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Chapter
3
3
4
4
5
6
6
7
1
2
8
8
9
9
Review
Final
Blackboard will be updated with announcements and documents as needed every
week. Check for the current assignments, class notes, and due dates on Blackboard
regularly.
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