Math 130A (44858) - Spring 2022
Probability I
Lecturer
Neil Donaldson
Email
ndonalds@math.uci.edu
Office hours
MW 11--1
Teaching Assistant
Dingjia Mao
Email
dingjiam@uci.edu
Office/Hours
RH 440T/Online Tu 9--11
Lectures
MWF 1-1:50pm MSTB 122
Notes, Exercises & Resources
Discussions
Sec A1 (44859): MW 2-2:50pm DBH 1500
Course Summary, Text & Syllabus
We will cover most of chapters 1--5 of A First Course in Probability, 9th ed, by Sheldon Ross. This covers basic combinatorics, the primary discrete and continuous probability distributions, and concepts such as the expectation and conditional probability. The text is optional since all homework and sketch notes will be provided. It is, however, highly recommended that you find a copy since we will follow it fairly closely and many of the homework questions will be extracted from the text. A previous edition is advised if you don't want to pay full price! Should you take it, it is also very likely that you will need the text for 130B.
For a more detailed syllabus including sections covered and assessment dates, click
here.
If you are feeling a but rusty, check out the Math dept's pre-requisite videos for this class.
Assessment
- Homework
is due at the Wednesday discussions of weeks 2--4 and 7--9 (see the
syllabus). Solutions will be posted within Canvas.
- Quizzes will be given in discussion class on the same days homework is collected. They will cover the same sections/material as the homework.
- The lowest of six homework scores and the lowest quiz scores will be dropped.
- Midterm: during normal class time on Wednesday 27th April
- Final: a comprehensive exam will be given in the usual classroom during finals week on Wednesday 8th June, 1:30-3:30pm
- The overall grade breakdown will be 20% Quizzes, 10% Homework, 25% Midterm, 45% Final.
Class Policies & Administrative Stuff
- Adds/Drops, P/NP changes & the Waitlist: This is handled centrally by the
math dept,
NOT the instructor. Being on the waitlist does not exempt you from any assessments.
- No calculators, notes, or cheat-sheets are permitted in the tests.
- A legible ID is required for the exams. If your UCI ID has a smudged picture, bring your driver's license or passport.
- Exams and overall scores will not be curved. You will receive a letter-grade equivalent with your midterm as a guide to how you're doing. The overall letter-grade cut-offs will be decided at the end of term in line with the following metrics:
- A grade of C/C- means you are considered ready to take any class that follows this one.
- An A grade means you can clearly explain the core course material and are able to apply it in unfamiliar situations.
- Grade-change requests will be ignored for any reason other than the incorrect recording of scores. You have until the date of the final exam to report any missing or incorrectly recorded scores in the Canvas gradebook.
Your final exam will be available to consult, but not take away, next quarter.
- Late homework will not be accepted, and make-up quizzes and exams are very unlikely to be granted. In the case of documented emergencies, the most likely remedy would be to drop an extra homework/quiz, re-weight the final exam, or award an incomplete. Note that an incomplete can only be awarded if your current work is of `passing quality': this primarily means a good midterm grade.
- If you want to request accommodations, contact the Disability Services Center (DSC) as soon as possible. The DSC exists to verify criteria for and decide suitable accommodations: the instructor and TA do not have the expertise to address to fairly these matters.
- Academic Honesty: Harsh penalties are in place for students who are caught cheating or using unauthorized assistance in tests. Depending on the severity of the offense, you may be given a zero for the assessment, for the class as a whole, or even suspended from the University.