MATH 1342 Materials

Required materials: (Read down the page for purchase options.)

1. Web software for textbook, called StatsPortal, which includes an electronic version of the text that you can use while you are signed into that system. It includes many additional materials in addition to the text. It also includes some of the required homework in the course. The "StatsPortal" course for this class will not be available until about a week before the class begins, so you can't purchase it online from the publisher until then. (Well, you could purchase it earlier and then change your course to mine when my current semester StatsPortal course for this semester is available.)
   Requirements: Web browser: Firefox or Internet Explorer. Some parts, but not all parts, will run on Chrome and Safari.
   
   
2. Minitab statistical software. (See below for more information.) Rent for $30 from http://www.minitab.com/ - following the link to "Academic." (Or - get a one-time 30-day free access to the full software.)

Optional materials: Paper copy of the text.

The text is The Basic Practice of Statistics, 6th ed., by David S. Moore (with CD). (The CD is not really relevant. All the resources on the CD are also available in StatsPortal and MANY more resources are in StatsPortal.)

As with most books, there are multiple ways to purchase it.

• In a package from the ACC bookstore ISBN 9781464111259: a folder with a Portal Access Card (which is NOT a CD) and a looseleaf version of the text. The text does come with a CD, but that is not relevant, since all the resources on the CD are freely available online. (Recommended, so that you will have something to work from when you do not have Internet access available.)
  Since it's looseleaf, you can keep it in a regular notebook at home and then carry just the chapters you are currently studying with you in a smaller notebook if you go somewhere else to study.)
  
  
• Just StatsPortal. From the publisher at http://courses.bfwpub.com/bps6e.php it's about $100 in August 2014.
  
  
• Used books can be purchased, but they don't come with StatsPortal, so you'll need to purchase StatsPortal in addition.
  
  
• From other bookstores, you can purchase a hard-bound copy of the book, but that is more expensive and typically does not come with an access folder for StatsPortal, so you'll need to purchase it. NOT RECOMMENDED.
  
  (One student pointed out that, last summer, Amazon was selling the exact package that we are recommending, which does say that it has the access folder and it has the correct ISBN number. So that's good.)
  
  
• Rent or purchase an e-book. This DOES NOT INCLUDE StatsPortal, so you'll still need to purchase it. (I was told last January that when students rent books from Bevo's Bookstore, they get the full package including the access information to StatsPortal. If you choose to do that, ask carefully, and make sure that they will let you return it for full credit if that folder with the access card is missing or if the access information doesn't work because the code was already used by a previous student.)

Required Technology:

1. Scientific calculator (graphing calculators will not be allowed on exams) The Testing Centers will usually lend you a scientific calculator to use on tests, but most students are more comfortable using one the same one they practiced with doing homework. If you don't already have one, and need to buy a new one, I suggest you get one with a two-line display rather than a one-line display. That usually only costs about $1 more, and allows you to see what you entered as well as the answer, which is quite convenient.

2. MINITAB 17 (Or Minitab 16, 15, or 14. Ask me about a very few differences.) We will use this software to do data analysis. You will use it every week and it is a required part of this course. Rent it for 6 months for about $30. You will install it on your computer and will not need to be online to use it. You can use a free trial for 30 days - only once on your computer.

Windows system requirements: http://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab/system-requirements/

Mac system requirements: http://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/express/system-requirements/

Important note for Mac users.

As of August 1, 2014, there is a version of Minitab called Minitab Express for Macs. Find it from the same website as all the other Minitab. It's the same cost as the regular Minitab, and is based on Minitab 17, so it has the same capabilities for all the topics covered in our course (at least that's what I am told.) I believe that the teaching materials we have for Minitab will be helpful to you, although you will have to do some adapting.

I am not able to run it because I don't have access to a Mac computer with a new-enough operating system. When you need me to help you with this, it will be very important that you send me a word-processing document with your question and some screenshots so that I can see what you are seeing. I am sure that I can help you if you will do this. But I probably can't without it, because I have no way of trying out what you are telling me that you are doing. (I have asked a former student of mine with a Mac to give me a good link that explains how to take a screenshot on a Mac and I will post that link here when I get it.)