Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Dr. J. Ramanathan
Fall 2015
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Contact Information
Dr. J. Ramanathan
Dept. of Mathematics
602 L, Pray-Harold
Office hours (tentative):
10:50-11:50 am, 6:45-7:15 pm TR
11:50-12:30 pm TR (by appointment)
Email: jramanath@emich.edu
Web Site: http://people.emich.edu/jramanath
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Goals of Course
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To learn the core concepts of elementary statistics
To engage and improve in computing, analysis and problem
solving within this setting
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Text
The Basic Practice of Statistics, 7-th ed., D.S. Moore, W.I.
Notz and M.A. Fligner, W.H. Freeman and Co., 2015.
Available as an eBook through WebAssign or as hardcopy.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Computing aids
You will need a graphing calculator. I will support any Texas
Instruments calculator that is a TI83 or better.
You will also need access to a computer that has Excel installed. A
computer with internet access is also needed to access my website
and the WebAssign site. In case you do not have a computer,
there are student computer labs throughout the university.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Class Policies: Overview
The class will be run in a lecture/discussion format. The work
required in this course consists of
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reading and suggested problems,
homework on WebAssign,
problem sets to be turned in to me directly, and
periodic quizzes.
There will also be a midterm and a final.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Class Policies: Weights
The relative weightings of these components in determining your
course grade are given in the table below:
WebAssign homework
Problem sets and quizzes
Midterm
Final
30%
35%
15%
20%
The suggested problems are not collected by me, but together with
the reading constitute one of the most important aspects of the
course. Some problem sets and quizzes will be done in groups.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Class Policies: Web assign
WebAssign is an online instructional system that provides nice
skills-oriented homework problems for our text over the internet.
To use this system, you will need to use the code provided by the
textbook as well the class code that I will provide you in order to
set up an account. You can then use the system to do the
WebAssign homeworks as I post them.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Class Policies: Comments on workflow
The reading assignments, the problem sets and suggested problems
will be posted regularly at my website (URL given above).
Deadline extensions for assignments, and make-up quizzes and
tests are rarely possible. Such actions will not be considered unless
adequate timely notification and adequate documentation of a dire
emergency situation are provided.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
Topic Outline
A complete topic outline can be found on my website. Please note
that this outline may be modified as the semester progresses.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
General Education Rationale
Statistics can be applied to almost every other field of study.
Learning statistics will give students a broad quantitative
foundation for further study in specialized disciplines. This course
will discuss how quantitative information is generated, summarized,
evaluated and interpreted, so that students will develop the habit
of thinking clearly and critically about quantitative information in
order to determine what information is reliable and which
predictions can be trusted. For this reason, Math 170 will count
for the Quantitative Reasoning requirement in the General
Education program, Education for Participation in the Global
Community.
Elementary Statistics (Math 170)
General Education Rationale (cont.)
Note: It is essential to check with an advisor to see if this course
does indeed count as QR course for your particular program. More
information can also be found at http://www.emich.edu/gened.