MA206 Probability and Statistics

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MA206 Probability and Statistics
Program Director LTC John JacksonCourse
Director MAJ Kevin CummiskeyAssistant CD MAJ
Nick Howard
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Goals Of MA206

• Manage uncertainty from a mathematical
  perspective.
• Develop probabilistic modeling abilities via
  classroom applications and group projects.
• Use software to analyze data, perform
  calculations.
• Understand variation and how it affects
  statistical analysis emphasize statistical
  thinking.
• Understand mathematical models for patterns and
  the appropriateness of these models.
• Make use of and effectively communicate
  appropriate statistics in the decision making
  process.

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Topics in MA206

• Data Analysis
• Graphically represent data (scatter plots,
  histograms, EDFs)
• Measures of location and variance
• Random Variables and Probability Distributions
• Distribution, PDF, CDF, percentiles, mean,
  variance
• Use the EDF to determine best-fit distributions
• Monte Carlo simulation (variate generation)
• Population Parameter Inference
• Confidence intervals for the mean
• Hypothesis testing for the mean
• Linear Regression
• Probabilistic properties of the coefficient
  estimates
• Extension of the simple model (transformations/mul
  tiple regression)

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What MA206 is aboutwe think/hope

• Have students interact with and confront issues
  associated with real data. (in progress)
• Emphasize more data and concepts, with less focus
  on probability and fewer recipes.
• Develop statistical literacy variability,
  association vs. causation, practical importance
  of statistical significance.
• Foster active learning and engage the material in
  a meaningful way.
• Project less prescriptive, have students
  develop their own research question, find data
  and investigate with concepts learned.

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MA206 Seasonal Enrollment

• Fall MA153/MA255/MA100
• About 230 Students
• Spring Core Enrollment
• Over 840 Students
• STAP Veterans/Rookies/other

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Questions