Course Description for STAT/MATH 414.001 (Introduction to Probability Theory)
Class Schedule
MWF 2.30-3.20, 358 Willard
Professor
Ayanendranath Basu
Office: 422 A Thomas
Phone: 863 8677
Email: abasu@stat.psu.edu
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 10.30 – 11.30 or by appointment.
TA
Hyang-Min Lee
Office: 331A
Phone: 863 1772
Email: hul145@psu.edu
Office Hours:
Text
Probability and Statistical Inference, Robert V. Hogg and Elliot A.
Tanis, 7th Edition (2006), Pearson Prentice Hall
Prerequisites
Math 230 or Math 231
Course Objective
This is the basic course in Probability Theory. Topics covered will include basic concepts
and definition of probability, conditional probability, discrete and continuous random
variables, mathematical expectation, transformation of random variables, generating
functions, law of large numbers and the central limit theorem.
Coverage of the Text
In terms of the text book, we hope to cover Chapters 1-5 in reasonable detail.
Homeworks
Weekly homeworks will be given to help you assimilate and practice the techniques
covered in class and to prepare you for the material to come. Homework will be collected
in class, at the beginning of the period on the assigned due date.
Late homeworks will not be accepted (except in case of serious medical/family
emergencies). Instead the homework with the lowest grade will be dropped.
Exams
There will be two Mid-Terms and one Final Exam. All Exams will be in-class and
closed-book, but students may bring one sheet of 8.5 × 11" paper with formulas etc. (both
sided) to each Exam. Calculators are permitted but no computers or devices with internet
access are allowed.
Approximate dates for the Mid-Terms: Mid Term 1, Sep 29 (Mon); Mid Term 2, Nov 3
(Mon).
There will be no makeup exams. There must be documented evidence if you miss an
exam due to a medical reason. If a student misses an exam with a valid excuse and prior
intimation, the final grade will be based on all other work in the course. Otherwise, a
missed exam is graded as zero.
Grade Breakdown
Homework
20%
Midterm 1
25%
Midterm 2
25%
Final Exam 30% (Cumulative)
The tentative lower bounds for letter grades are as follows:
A
93%
A90%
B
86%
B
81%
B76%
C+
71%
C
66%
D
58%
F
0
Academic Integrity
All Penn State and Eberly College of Science policies regarding academic integrity apply
to this course. See http://www.science.psu.edu/academic/Integrity/index.hmtl for details.