MTH 201 (Fall 2017), Introduction to Probability


Introduction to Probability

Instructors:

Arjun Krishnan
E-mail:
Office: Hylan 817
Lectures: MW 2–3:15 pm in Dewey 2162
Office Hours: M 1-2pm, W 12-2pm
Mark Herman
E-mail: mherman4 at ur dot rochester dot edu
Office: Hylan 808
Lectures: MW 10:25–11:40 am in Goergen 108
Office Hours: Tues 11:30am-1pm, Thurs 1-2:30pm

MTH 201 Study Hall

201 Study Hall starts the week of Sept. 11.

Tuesday
6:15-7:30pm, Hylan 1106B
Yutong He (yhe29@u.rochester.edu)
Friday
11:20am-12:20pm, Hylan 1104
Kevin Hunt (khunt6@u.rochester.edu)

These are exclusively for MTH 201 students and staffed by highly knowledgable MTH 201 TAs. You are strongly encouraged to attend; homework problems will be discussed and if you have any questions related to MTH 201 this is a great resource for help. Feel free to come by anytime during the hours listed; no appointment necessary.

Text

Introduction to Probability Lecture Notes by David F. Anderson, Timo Seppalainen and Benedek Valko

Note: The textbook is not available to the general public yet. You can obtain an electronic copy from the Math 201 site in your blackboard account.

Prerequisites

Math 162 or the equivalent. This is a strict prerequisite; MTH 162 and 201 cannot be taken concurrently. Math 164 will help in some parts of the course but is not essential.

Grade

12.5% Webwork + 12.5% Written Homework + 20% First Midterm + 20% Second Midterm + 35% Final

The final will consist of two parts. Part A will cover the material tested in both Midterms 1 & 2, while Part B will only contain questions related to material appearing after Midterm 2. Part A accounts for 15% of your course grade and Part B accounts for 20% of your course grade. In addition, the part A score will replace the lowest midterm score (but not both) if it is indeed higher. No Makeup Exams will be given for any reason. If you miss a midterm exam, then part A of the final exam will count as your makeup. Final Part A can only replace one midterm score, however.

You will NOT be permitted calculators or other electronic devices (iPhone, smart watches, etc.) on any exams. You will NOT be permitted books, notes, or “cheat sheets” on any exams.

Incomplete “I” grades are almost never given. The only justification is a documented serious medical problem or a genuine personal/family emergency. Falling behind in this course or problems with workload on other courses are not acceptable reasons.

Exams

  • First Midterm
    • Tuesday, October 17
    • 8:00am - 9:15am
    • Location: Lower Strong Aud
  • Second Midterm
    • Tuesday, November 21
    • 8:00am - 9:15am
    • Location: Lower Strong Aud
  • Final Exam
    • Sunday, December 17
    • 8:30am - 11:30am
    • Location: Hoyt Aud

Webwork

Webwork sets will be due Friday at 11:59pm, starting September 15. To access webwork go to “Course Materials” on the MTH 201 blackboard site or click the following Webwork Link if you are already logged into blackboard. Please note that extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. A crowded schedule or minor illness are NOT valid reasons to ask for an extension. If you know you will be absent from school for an extended period, inform your instructor as early as possible so arrangements can be made.

A “WeBWorK TA” will be available to answer questions about Webwork homework sets until 5pm on Fridays. Questions received after 5pm may not be answered. There is a button on each problem to email the WeBWorK TA.

The lowest Webwork grade will be dropped.

Written Homework

Written homework will be due Wednesdays in class, starting September 13. Since WebWork cannot grade the quality of your explanations, the written homework serves this purpose. If you do not show your steps and reasoning, you will not receive credit. No late submissions will be allowed under any circumstances.

The lowest written homework grade will be dropped.

Academic honesty

All assignments and activities associated with this course must be performed in accordance with the University of Rochester’s Academic Honesty Policy. More information is available at: www.rochester.edu/college/honesty. This resource is great, and has a great FAQ section. There are some fairly scary policies. For example, if you’re found cheating, the instructor is required to report you.

In this class, you may freely discuss homework with each other, whether it is webwork or the written homework. But your work must be your own, and you may not copy someone else’s answers.

Help

If you are having difficulty seek help immediately - do not wait until it is too late to recover from falling behind. There are several avenues for you to get help and ask questions, outside of lecture:

Disability Support

The University of Rochester respects and welcomes students of all backgrounds and abilities. In the event you encounter any barrier(s) to full participation in this course due to the impact of disability, please contact the Office of Disability Resources. The access coordinators in the Office of Disability Resources can meet with you to discuss the barriers you are experiencing and explain the eligibility process for establishing academic accommodations. You can reach the Office of Disability Resources at: (585)275-9049; 1-154 Dewey Hall. Or, visit Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

To be granted alternate testing accommodations, you (the student) must fill out forms with CETL at least seven days before each and every exam. These forms are not sent automatically. Instructors are not responsible for requesting alternative testing accommodations at CETL, and they are not obligated to make any accommodations on their own.