STATISTICS 119  Spring 2011

Elementary Business Statistics

           

Instructor: Helen Noble                                               E-mail: hnoble@math.sdsu.edu

 

Office location: GMCS 518                                          Office phone: 594 7245 (no voicemail)

 

Office Hours:    TTH 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

T  3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.               Other times by appointment

 

Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable. Mark Twain

Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write

H. G. Wells

 

The H.G. Wells quote is more relevant today than ever, since we're inundated by statistics.  Recent movement in the stock market was at least, in part, the result of statistics: consumer confidence polls, unemployment figures, home price trends, company profits, etc.  Politicians and political parties use statistics in an attempt to convince us that their point of view is correct.  Businesses use statistics as a major marketing tool.

It is in everyone’s interest to have a good understanding of statistics and the ability to use and interpret them effectively and appropriately.

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to statistics: topics covered will include measures of central tendency and variability, frequency distributions, probability, Bayes theorem, probability distributions (including binomial and normal), sampling distributions, confidence intervals, significance testing, regression and correlation.

 

Student Learning Goals:

After completing the course, students should be able to:

  • Recognize whether an experiment or survey is well designed.
  • Understand how to produce a sample that represents the population of interest.
  • Summarize data using both graphical and numerical methods.
  • Produce and interpret statistics and graphs, using regression techniques, to describe the relationship between two numerical variables.
  • Use basic probability principles in a variety of practical applications
  • Identify, and calculate probabilities for, binomial and normal probability distributions.
  • Understand the concept of sampling distributions.
  • Use statistical methods to construct, and interpret, interval estimates for population means and proportions.
  • Formulate, test and interpret various hypotheses for population means and proportions.

 

Required Materials:

v      DeVeaux, R., Velleman, P., Bock, D. (2009). Intro Stats (Second Custom Edition), Pearson Education, Inc.

v      Access code for online homework: if you purchase a new text this will come packaged with the book. If you purchase a used text you can buy the code online at www.mathxl.com for $44

 

v      Noble, H. Stat 119 Student Manual (available at the bookstore under “Noble”)

Additional Items:

v      Calculator: Each student will need a statistical calculator with bivariate data capability. A TI-83 or TI-84 would be very useful, but is not required. If you do not already have a calculator, I recommend the TI-30X IIS or TI-30X IIB.

v      Additional course materials can be found on blackboard: http://blackboard.sdsu.edu.  Please check this site daily for important announcements.

 

Course Layout:

q       There will be 6 in-class quizzes & two optional RA quizzes (see below).  Dates will be announced in class.  There are no make-up quizzes. The lowest three quiz scores will be dropped.  You must bring a No. 2 pencil and a ParScore form F-289  to each quiz.

q       Optional RA quizzes: 10 Recitation assignments will be posted on Blackboard and must be printed, completed, and turned in at the beginning of class on the due date. The TA assigned to your class is Jane. She will conduct weekly sessions (time & location will be posted on Blackboard) during which you can complete the problems as a group. Alternatively you can go to PS-100 during posted hours and go over the assignment with a TA. To get credit for an assignment you must go over it with a STAT 119 TA and get his or her signature. These assignments are an opportunity to get more individualized instruction and are highly recommended for students who have struggled with math in the past. This is also an opportunity to boost your course grade by replacing quiz grades: five recitation assignment scores will be combined to form a quiz score for an overall total of 8 quizzes. I will drop the three lowest quiz scores, so if you choose to not do the RA quizzes these will be automatically dropped and so will not affect your grade.

q       Required participation assignments:  these may include unannounced in-class assignments, take home assignments or discussion board contributions.

q       Homework will be done using the computer program called MathXL.  The code to access this program is included with your textbook. If you have a used textbook an access code can be purchased online (www.mathxl.com). Due dates for homework are available on MathXL & will be announced in class.  Homework assignments will not be made available again after the due date. All homework scores count toward your final grade.

q       1 computer assignment will be given during the semester. This assignment will be completed using the MINITAB or the EXCEL software package, available on computers in the Student Computing Center (behind Love library). It is possible to download a free 30-day trial version of MINITAB: http://www.minitab.com/products/minitab/demo/

q       There will be two midterm exams.  The midterm exams are scheduled for Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Any test missed will result in an “F” for that test.

Exam dates:   Wednesday March 2nd                        7:00-8:30 p.m.           

Wednesday April 20th                         7:00-8:30 p.m.           

 

q       The final will be comprehensive

Final date:       Saturday, May 14th                              8:00-10:00 a.m. 

 

You must bring a No. 2 pencil and ParScore form F-289  to each test: none will be provided.

 

Grading           Quizzes                                    (125 points)      12.5%

Participation                              (25 points)         2.5%

Homework                                (100 points)       10%

Computer project                       (50 points)         5%              

Two midterms                           (400 points)       40%

Final                                         (300 points)       30%

 

Grades will be assigned as follows:

92.6%-100%                 A                                 72.6%-77.5%                C

90%-92.5%                   A-                                70%-72.5%                   C-

87.6%-89.9%                B+                                67.6%-69.9%                D+

82.6%-87.5%                B                                  62.6%-67.5%                D

80%-82.5%                   B-                                60%-62.5%                   D-

77.6%-79.9%                C+                                Less than 60%              F

 

How to Be Successful in This Course:

 

q                   Attend EVERY lecture.  Missing just one class can put you behind.  Take an interest in your grade from DAY 1.  Waiting until the end of the semester to improve your grade will not work. I will on occasion collect in-class assignments for extra credit.

q                   Read the chapters thoroughly including the chapter summary and the formulas at the end.  Due to the time frame, lectures will not cover every concept in detail, so it is your responsibility to read the chapter BEFORE class and before attempting the homework.

q                   Please come to my office hours prepared with specific questions.  Be proactive:  If you are in need of help, get it immediately.  That is what my office hours are for (they begin the second week of class).  GTA’s will be offering tutoring in PS-100 starting the second week of class.  I will post their hours on Blackboard.  Use this great resource!  This is a free service

q                   Study effectively: redo all problems from the lecture notes, practice quizzes and practice exams.  Use flashcards to help you remember terminology.  Reread your notes from class and the chapters from the text.  Form study groups with others in the class.  Sometimes you can better understand the material after discussing it with your peers.

 

SDS

Student Disability Services (594-6473) is the campus office responsible for determining and providing appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities.  Students needing these services should visit the following site: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sds/index.html

 

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. The following steps are usually taken with a student caught cheating: The instructor will normally record a zero or an “F” for that exam, quiz, homework or project; although the instructor may decide to give an “F” grade for the course.

All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities. The office will investigate complaints in order to determine whether University disciplinary action is to be pursued. For more information on SDSU's policies and procedures regarding academic misconduct visit the following site: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/index.html

 

Additional Items:

q Turn your cell phones off  (not on vibrate) before entering class and put them away for the entire class.  You will not be able to use the phone as a calculator.

q Put away ipods, other musical devices, and newspapers before the start of class.

q Please do not bring laptop computers to class

q Please do not talk during lecture.  It is both disrespectful and disruptive.

q I make every effort to start and end class on time.  Please respect the 75 minutes of class time; do not pack up early-it disturbs those around you.

q Save all of your graded work. Check your scores against the scores posted on blackboard.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS   Spring 2011

 

Week

Date

Topics

Tasks

1*

Jan 19-28

 Exploring and Understanding Data:

 Displaying data

Read Chapters 1-4

2

Jan 31-Feb 4

 Exploring and Understanding Data:

 Describing Distributions Numerically

 Last day to drop: Feb. 1

 Last day to add:   Feb. 3

Read Chapter 5

 

3

Feb 7 -11

 Exploring and Understanding Data:

 The standard deviation & the Normal Model

Read Chapter 6

 

4

Feb 14-18

 

 Exploring Relationships Between Variables

           

Read Chapters 7-9

 

5

Feb 21-25

 Gathering Data

 Review for exam 1

Read Chapters 12-13

 

6

Feb 28-Mar 4

 MIDTERM #1 (March 2, 7:00-8:30)           

Study for exam

7

Mar 7-11

 Randomness and Probability

 

Read Chapters 14 & 15

 

8

Mar 14-18

 Randomness and Probability:

 The Binomial Model

Read Chapters 15 & 17

 

9

Mar 21-25

From the Data at Hand to the World at Large:

Sampling Distribution Model for a proportion

From the Data at Hand to the World at Large:

 Confidence Intervals for Proportions

Read Chapter 18A (pg 458-465)

Read Chapter 19

 

 

Mar 28-April 1

Spring break

 

10

April 4-8

 Testing Hypotheses About Proportions

 

Read Chapter 20

 

11

April 11-15

 From the Data at Hand to the World at Large:

More about Tests

 Review for exam 2

Read Chapter 21

 

12

April 18-22

 MIDTERM #2  (April 20, 7:00-8:30)

Study for exam

13

April 25-29

From the Data at Hand to the World at Large:

Sampling Distribution Model for a mean

Learning About the World:

 Inferences About Means

Read Chapter 18B (pg 466-478)

Read Chapter 23

14

May 2-6

 Learning About the World:

 Inferences About Means

Read Chapter 23

 

15

May 9-10

 

May 14

 Learning About the World:

 Inferences About Means

 FINAL EXAM:   0800-1000

Study for Final Exam