Math 466/566 - Theory of Statistics

Prof. Kennedy - Spring 2006

Course home page: www.math.arizona.edu/~tgk/466/index.html

Instructor: Tom Kennedy (Professor, Mathematics)
email: tgk@math.arizona.edu (Please include 466 or 566 in the subject line)
Phone: 621-6696
Office: Math 607

Office hours: will be announced in class and posted on the web.

Text: Lectures on Statistics by Bill Faris. This is a set of notes that can be purchased at the bookstore for about $9. You can also download the notes in pdf format from Professor Faris's website.

Material covered: We will cover approximately the first 13 chapters in the notes.

Software: We will use the statistical software packware R. It is a free software package for statistical computing and graphics. You can download it from the link above. Occasionally we will meet in one of the computer labs (Math 101 or 102) in the mathematics building to use R.

Place and time: Tues-Thurs 9:30-10:45, room: Modern Languages 202
Important: Some classes will meet in the mathematics building in one of the computer labs (Math 101 or 102). I will announce in class when we will be meeting there and post it on the web. If you miss a class, you should check the web to see if the next class is in the usual classroom or one of the labs.

Prerequisites: The official prerequisite is Math 464 or 564 (Theory of probability). We will be using ideas and techniques from probability throughout this course. If you have not had the prerequisite you must talk to me to see if it makes any sense for you to take this course.

Homework: Homework is the most important part of the course. The only way to learn mathematics is by doing it. Homework assignments will be posted on the web in addition to being announced in class.

Quizes and Exams: There will be approximately six in class quizes (15 minutes). There will be one midterm exam and a comprehensive final. The final is Tuesday, May 9, 8:00 am - 10:00 am in the same room as the classes. The mid-term is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 2 (in class).

Grading: 466 and 566 will be graded on separate curves. Your course grade will be determined using the weighting 466 vs. 566: With rare exceptions, undergraduate students should be registered for 466, graduate students for 566. The homework assignments and exams for 566 will be somewhat different from those for 466.

Exam content: The exams will be based heavily on the homeworks. Both exams are closed book, closed notes.

Missed Exams: If you miss an exam for a legitimate reason, a make-up will be scheduled at my convenience. I may ask for documentation of the legitimate reason, e.g., a note from student health if you are sick.

Homework collaboration: I encourage you to discuss the homework with each and share ideas. However, you should write up the homework on your own. If you simply copy someone else's homework, I will consider that cheating. It will also greatly increases your chances of doing poorly on the exams.

Dropping the course: Tuesday, Feb. 7 is the last day to drop without a grade. Tuesday, March 7 is the last day to withdraw with a grade of W. You will need to get my signature to do this. After March 7 you need your Dean's signature to drop the course and this requires extraordinary circumstances.

Incompletes: The University General Catalog says that incompletes may be awarded only at the end of the semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. It should not be awarded if the student must repeat the course. The Mathematics Department vigorously enforces this policy. In this course, the only scenario I can envision that would lead to a grade of incomplete is that you cannot take the final exam due to illness.

Attendance: You are responsible for all announcements made in class (possible changes to the midterm exam date, homework assignments, etc.) as well as all material covered in class.

DRC: Students who are registered with the Disability Resource Center must submit appropriate documentation to the instructor if they are requesting reasonable accommodations.