STA113: Probability and Statistics in Engineering

Prof: Robert Wolpert TAs: Sining Chen Chris Paciorek
Lec: Tue & Thu 2:15-3:30pm Lab: Fri 1:10-2:00pm Fri 2:20-3:10pm
Soc Sci 139 Hudson 107 Hudson 107
Off: Old Chem 211c Old Chem 222 Bio Sci 246
Tel: 684-3275 684-8840 660-7308
E-Mail: wolpert@stat.duke.edu sining@stat.duke.edu cjp@duke.edu
OH: Wed 2:00-3:00pm Thu 3:30-4:30pm Thu 1:00-2:00
Tue & Thu 3:30-4:00pm

Course:
Course: Syllabus ACES FAQ Data
MiniTab: Intros 1, 2 Home Splus: V+R Notes MatLab: Primer

Text: Mendenhall and Sincich, Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences (4th edn).

About the course: This is an introduction to statistical reasoning about uncertainty in engineering, including the necessary elements of probability theory. Each topic in the course builds on the material preceding it, so it is important to master each topic as soon as it is covered.

Exams: There will be two midterm examinations (February 19 and April 2) and a final exam or optional project. Exams are closed-book, but you may bring a single one-sided 8½x11" sheet of formulas, definitions, etc. (this formula sheet may give you some ideas). You may find it helpful to look at the midterm exams given in recent years (First midterm: s96, s97, s98; Second midterm: s96, s97, s98); Final Exam: s96, s97. Answer keys are not available for these (see FAQ), but the TA's and I are happy to mark or discuss your solutions for you.

Absences: Attendance at lectures is entirely voluntary, but students who must miss a scheduled midterm or final examination for any reason (athletic, religious, personal, etc.) should if possible make arrangements with me well ahead of time to take a version of the test EARLY. Late make-up tests will be given only with a Dean's Excuse.

Course grades: Approximately 25% for each of the midterm exams, 30% for the final exam or project, and 20% for homework (including any in-class quizzes in recitation labs).

Homework: There will be 10 homework assignments, each including several problems, some requiring computer work. Homeworks will be assigned and collected on most Fridays (see syllabus) during recitations, and assignments may, at the TAs' discretion, include an in-class problem or quiz. Homework solutions will be posted on the web soon after the homeworks are due, so late assignments will not be accepted. Some of the problems will be taken from the textbook and will have solutions in the appendix, so you are requested to show your work. Students may work individually or in groups of up to five people. Those who work in a group do not need to hand in separate solutions but must specify very clearly the names of all group participants. Students who score 50% or below on the first Midterm may still work with others but will be asked to turn in individual homework solutions for the remainder of the course.

For those problems involving computer work please hand only relevant material, no unedited or uncommented computer output will be accepted. See FAQ for suggestions on how to print computer output.

Graded homework will be returned during recitations on Fridays. TAs will comment on the solutions of the most relevant problems.

Computing: The statistical software package Minitab will be used in this course. Designed for teaching, it is smaller, simpler, and easier to use than professional packages like SAS or statistical computing environments like S-Plus. Minitab has an on-line help facility and the textbook has references to relevant Minitab commands. The Duke Bookstore will stock an optional but useful reference, the Minitab Handbook by Ryan, Joiner and Ryan. If you already know S-Plus or SAS you're welcome to use that instead, but spreadsheets are not acceptable. Students wanting to learn more about S-Plus might want to read the notes by Venables and Ripley (these later evolved into the book Statistics and Computing, available in the Math-Physics library).