1. Fall 2016 Syllabus & Class Policies
MATH 350: Probability
Fall 2016
Syllabus & Class Policies

2. Course topics
Introduction to Probability; Discrete and Continuous Distributions; Simulations
Combinatorics
Conditional Probability
Basic distributions and Densities
Expected Value; Variance; Moments
Sums of Random Variables
Law of Large Numbers
Central Limit Theorem
Generating Functions
Introduction to Random Walks
The tentative detailed syllabus of the course can be found at .

3. Tentative Detailed Schedule (part 1)
8/31 Introduction
9/2 Discrete Probability Distributions
9/7 Random Variables; Sample Spaces
9/9 Axioms of Probability; Uniform Distribution
9/12 Monte Carlo Procedures
9/14 Continuous Probability Densities
9/16 Density Functions of Continuous Random Variables
9/19 Cumulative Distribution Functions of Continuous RVs
9/21 Counting Problems
9/23 Permutations
9/26 Combinations
9/28 Bernoulli Trials; Binomial Distributions
9/30 Hypothesis Testing; Binomial Expansion
10/3 Discrete Conditional Probability
10/5 Independence; Joint Distributions; Bayes Formula
10/7 Continuous Conditional Probability
10/10 Joint Density and Cumulative Distribution Functions
10/12 Discrete Distributions: Uniform, Geometric, etc.
10/14 Discrete Distributions: Poisson , Hypergeometric
10/17 Catch-Up Class
10/19 Midterm Exam

4. Tentative Detailed Schedule (part 2)
10/24 Continuous Densities: Uniform, Exponential, Gamma
10/26 Functions of a Random Variable
10/28 Continuous Densities: Normal
10/31 Expected Value of a Random Variable
11/2 Expected Value of a Function of a Random Variable
11/4 Expected Value: Discrete and Continuous Random Variables
11/7 Variance
11/9 Variance: Discrete and Continuous Random Variables
11/11 Sums of Discrete Random Variables
11/14 Sums of Continuous Random Variables
11/16 Law of Large Numbers; Chebyshev Inequality
11/18 Law of Large Numbers: Continuous Variables
11/21 Central Limit Theorem for Binomial Distribution
11/28 Applications to Statistics
11/30 Central Limit Theorem for Discrete Independent Trials
12/2 Central Limit Theorem for Continuous Independent Trials
12/5 Generating Functions for Discrete Distributions
12/7 Generating Functions for Continuous Densities
12/9 Random Walks in Euclidean Space; Arc Sine Laws
12/12 Catch-Up Class
12/14 Final Exam (2 p.m.)

5. Course learning outcomes
Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of probability topics. This includes knowledge of theorems with complete assumptions.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use methods of probability theory and perform probability computations accurately and efficiently.
Students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems, including applications outside of mathematics.
Students will be able to construct simple proofs independently.
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

6. Attendance; work; proofs
Regular attendance is really necessary. It is quite difficult to catch up with the material when you miss a class. It becomes virtually impossible, if you miss several classes.
A student is supposed to spend at least two hours at home for each class hour. Thus, you should expect spending at least 8 hours a week (more likely about 10 hours) doing your homework and preparing for quizzes/exams.
This is an upper-division mathematics course, so we will be doing quite some number of proofs. You will be expected to do some proofs in your homework assignments as well as during exams.

7. Textbook
We will follow the textbook closely: C.M. Grinstead, J.L. Snell, Introduction to Probability, Second Revised Edition (Chapters , and the beginning of Chapter 12).
The paperbound version of the text is available from the AMS bookshop, but the text "has now been made freely redistributable under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL), as published by the Free Software Foundation. Briefly stated, the FDL permits you to do whatever you like with a work, as long as you don't prevent anyone else from doing what they like with it. This is the same license that is used for the Wikipedia." All details about how to download the text and the accompanying materials may be found at: .

8. Office Hours and Contact
Office hours (Dr. Lukasz Pruski, Serra 149, x. 4035):
Monday 1:25 - 2:25 and 4 - 5:30
Wednesday 3:30 – 5
Friday 1:25 - 2:25
and at other times, by appointment.
Contact: The best way to contact me is by using I read many times during the day and night, except for a few weekends when I am out of town. I have voice mail (x. 4035), but I sometimes forget to check it. You may call the Mathematics Department Executive Assistant, Tina, at x. 4706, as well.

9. Course Webpage and Assignments
A primitive webpage for the course is at . You should check the webpage daily for assignments, announcements, and links.
Homework Assignments will be assigned and collected roughly once a week. The assignments will be graded partly on effort. I will assign many odd-numbered exercises that have answers at the BOB (Back-Of-Book). The total homework assignment score will count for 20% of the course grade. No late assignments will be accepted unless you arrange it with me in advance.

10. Quizzes and Exams
There will be about 10 short pop-quizzes (not announced in advance). Quiz questions will refer to the recently covered material and to the new material you were supposed to read on your own. Three lowest quiz scores will be dropped, and the remaining scores will count for 20% of the course grade. Quizzes cannot be made up unless you have a valid reason for not taking the quiz and you notify me in advance of your absence.
The midterm exam (of closed-book variety) will take place on Wednesday, October 19, and its score will count for 30% of the course grade. A test can be made up only if you have an actual emergency and if you notify me in advance about your absence.
The final exam (Wednesday, December 14, 2:00 - 4:30) will be cumulative and its score will count for 30% of the course grade. The exam is also closed-book 
Calculator policy: No calculators, smart phones, iPods, tablets, etc. are allowed.

11. Grading Criteria Grading criteria are as follows:
TotalPercentage Grade
90% and above A
80% - 90% B
60% - 80% C
50% - 60% D
below 50% F
Of course, pluses and minuses will be used, close to cutoff boundaries.
In the unlikely case that the number of A's and B's falls below 40%, I will curve the grades up appropriately.

12. Academic Integrity
The Department of Mathematics strongly promotes Academic Integrity.
I hope issues related to academic integrity will not arise in our course. There have been some cases of cheating in math courses in the past – mainly the cases of submitting someone else’s work as well as cases of cheating during exams. Depending on the severity of the case, the possible consequences include: assigning the score of 0 on the given assignment, lowering the course grade, or even assigning an F in the course.