MATH 1342

Elementary Statistics

Main handout | Videotapes | Computer Software

Information for Students

1999-2000

Required Texts: The Basic Practice of Statistics, 2nd ed., by David S. Moore

MINITAB Guide to Accompany The Basic Practice of Statistics, 2nd ed. by Greenberg

Optional: Study Guide for The Basic Practice of Statistics by Notz, Flignar, and Busam

Syllabus: Chapters 1 - 4, 6 - 9, and 11, with Chapters 5, 10, and 12 optional. In this course, students will learn to

1. Determine the aspects of a question, if any, for which statistics can provide relevant information.

2. Analyze statistical studies, particularly regarding appropriate sampling and experimental design.

3. Select and use appropriate statistical analyses to get useful information from data.

4. Communicate knowledge using standard statistical language and also interpret it in non-technical language.

Required Technology:

1. Calculator with statistical functions. If you are buying a calculator, be sure to get one that does both one-variable and two-variable statistical functions. (The cost is under $20.) If you already have a calculator and don’t know whether it is adequate, ask your instructor.

2. Access to MINITAB computer software. You are not expected to buy this. It is available in the computer labs. Your instructor will give you a handout about using MINITAB at your campus. (For information about the availability of MINITAB at other campuses, check this Website: <http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/mparker/1342/minitab/>) If, after you have become familiar with the software in the lab, you want to buy a copy, please contact Mary Parker (mparker@austin.cc.tx.us or 223-4846) for information. There are a number of different versions available and we don’t want you to waste your money.

Prerequisite.

Students who have made 230 or higher on the TASP Math Test or 49 or higher on the COMPASS Algebra Test or passed high school Algebra II have satisified the math prerequisite requirement. Students should also have college-level reading skills.

Students in MTH 1563 will be expected to:

1. understand material from the text after reading it.

2. do homework using fairly complicated formulas after seeing one example

3. do some, but not much, algebraic manipulation of formulas

Outside Help

Do you wish you could have a private tutor for statistics? Some of the mathematics tutors in the Learning Labs can tutor statistics students. Ask in the lab for times when they are available. Also, the author of the text put together videotapes with just what he’d use in tutoring students. Against All Odds is shown on cable TV and is available in the LRS for viewing there. These 26 half-hour videotapes are very high quality and combine some discussion of practical applications of the statistics with coaching in exactly how to do the calculations. Your instructor can provide you with a list of topics covered on each videotape and the air times for this semester. (Or check the Website <http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/mparker/1342/video.htm>) You will find these tapes very useful if you miss a class or need more discussion of a particular topic. However, note that they are intended as a supplement to the class. They are not a replacement for class attendance.

Calendar: (starred section optional, at the discretion of the instructor)

16-week semester

11-week semester

6-week semester

Week 1: 1.1, 1.2

Week 1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

Week 1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2

Week 2: 1.3

Week 2: 1.3, 2.1, 2.2

Week 2: 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2

Week 3: 2.1, 2.2

Week 3: 2.3, 2.4, 2.5

Week 3: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 6.1

Week 4: 2.3, 2.4

Week 4: 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2

Week 4: 6.2, 6.3. 6.4*, 7.1

Week 5: 2.5, 3.1

Week 5: 4.3, 4.4, 6.1

Week 5: 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, Ch. 9,

Week 6: 3.2, 4.1, 4.2

Week 6: 6.2, 6.3, 6.4*

Week 6: Ch.11, optional ch., Final Exam

Week 7: 4.3, 4.4

Week 7: 7.1, 7.2, 8.1

 

Week 8: 6.1, 6.2

Week 8: 8.2, Ch. 9

 

Week 9: 6.3, 6.4*

Week 9: Ch. 11

 

Week 10: 7.1, 7.2

Week 10: optional chapter

 

Week 11: Review, 8.1

Week 11: Rev. & Final Exam

 

Week 12: 8.2, Review

 

 

Week 13: Chapter 9

 

 

Week 14: Chapter 11

 

 

Week 15: optional chapter

 

 

Week 16: Rev. & Final Exam

 

 

 

Suggested Testing Scheme

Because of the nature of the material, each test is comprehensive on all the material up to that point. The test will concentrate on the material since the previous test.

Test 1: through Chapter 1

Test 2: through Chapter 3

Test 3: through Chapter 6

Test 4: through Chapter 8

Test 5: through the end of the course

Your instructor may give you a different testing scheme. The instructor also will give you a handout which spells out the details of her/his grading procedure.

Withdrawals

Attendance is required in this course. Students who miss more than 5 hours of classes may be withdrawn. After the withdrawal date each semester, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students for excessive absences (4) or failure to meet course objectives but makes no commitment to do this for the student.

Incompletes

Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of I, a student must have taken all examinations, be passing, and have a personal tragedy occur after the last date to withdraw which prevents course completion.

 


Austin Community College Instructional Television

AGAINST ALL ODDS: INSIDE STATISTICS

a videotape series on introductory (not calculus based) statistics

Most area Cable Systems

ACC Channel (Channel 19 almost everywhere, Channel 61 on Williamson County Cable)

Viewing times for the current semester

(check <http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/mparker/1342/video.htm> or call Mary Parker 223-4846)

Each half-hour program contains several documentary segments shot on location to illustrate varied applications of statistics, as well as explanations of the statistical ideas and examples of how to do the computations. The numbers after the titles below are the corresponding sections of David Moore’s textbook, Basic Practice of Statistics, 2nd ed., which is used in the mathematics department at ACC and in both the mathematics and business departments at the University of Texas at Austin.

1 What is Statistics?

2 Picturing Distributions 1.1

3 Numerical Description of Dist’ns 1.2

4 Normal Distributions 1.3

5 Normal Calculations 1.3

6 Time Series 1.1

7 Models for Growth 2.3

8 Describing Relationships 2.1

9 Correlation 2.2

10 Multidimensional Data Analysis

11 The Question of Causation 2.4

12 Experimental Design 3.2

13 Experiments and Samples 3.1

14 Sampling and Sampling Dist’ns 4.3

15 What is Probability? 4.2

16 Random Variables 4.2

17 Binomial Distributions 5.2

18 The Sample Mean and Control Charts 4.3, 4.4

19 Confidence Intervals 6.1

20 Significance Tests 6.2, 6.3

21 Inference for One Mean 7.1

22 Comparing Two Means 7.1, 7.2

23 Inference for Proportions 8.1, 8.2

24 Inference for Two-Way Tables Ch. 9

25 Inference for Relationships Ch. 11

26 Case Study Ch 6-12

The entire videotape series is available for viewing in the Media Centers of the Learning Resource Centers. The entire series will also be shown each semester on the ACC channel of local cable systems. Videotaping these programs for personal use does not violate copyright laws. It is expected that students and others will do so.


Last updated August 16, 1999. Comments, questions, suggestions?