Math 110  Mathematical Perspectives - Data Analysis  Westminster College
C. K. Cuff, Ph.D.                                                                  Fall, 2002


Hoyt 154                                                                              Office hours MWF  12:50 - 1:30 and by appointment

x7291                                                                                             T Th mornings by appointment

                                                                                             Class times MWF 8:10-10:20,  T Th  12:30-2:00

Syllabus

Course Description
Texts and materials required
Objective
Expectations
Assessment
Final grade calculation

Course outline

August, September, October, November, December

Course Description - Math 110 is a study of interpreting and reasoning with quantitative information. The themes include principles of reasoning, problem-solving, mathematical models, estimation, probability, statistics, analysis of numerical and critical arguments. The specific topics for this section of Mathematical Perspectives are statistics and simulation of probabilities.

Text and Materials Required

Text - David S. Moore, Statistics:  Concepts and Controversies, Freeman, 5th edition, 2001.

Students are required to have a statistical calculator which does two variable statistics.  You are expected to learn to use the calculator on your own.  (You need the manual that comes with the calculator to learn to use it. I’m using a Casio fx-115W)

Looseleaf notebook, looseleaf paper for homework problems

Objective

This course is designed to introduce the liberal arts student to concepts and applications of statistics. Statistics, the discipline, provides strategies and tools for using data to gain insight into problems. In this course, emphasis is placed on data analysis and interpretation of statistical test results. The course is designed to develop critical reasoning skills necessary to understand our quantitative world.  The focus of the course is the process of learning how to ask appropriate questions, how to collect data effectively, how to summarize and interpret that information, and how to understand the limitations of statistical inferences.  (paraphrased from Statistics for the Twenty-First Century, Gordon and Gordon, eds.  MAA Notes No. 26)
Goals
    Understand the omnipresent of variation in processes.
    Understand how statistics uses data to gain insight and draw conclusions about claims.
    Understand the uncertainty of statistical conclusions.
Expectations
  • YOU ARE EXPECTED TO READ THE TEXT. The first day of class will be used to discuss how to read the text.
  • You are expected to attend class daily. If you attend all classes for the entire period you will receive 10 extra credit points. There will be no excused (or unexcused) absences for the extra credit.  If you expect to miss 3 or more classes due to co/extra-curricular activities, job interviews, or other such events, you are encouraged to reschedule the taking of this class. If you miss 3 or more classes, excused or unexcused, you will receive one less letter grade than that which you earn.  For example, if you earn a B- and have 3 absences your grade will be a C-.
  • You are expected to do the assigned homework prior to the next class period, write the answers out, and bring them with you to that class.
    • Assessment
    Final grade calculation

     

    93-100    A                     78-79.99 C+
    90-92.99 A-                    73-77.99 C
    88-89.99 B+                  70-70.99 C-
    83-87.99 B                      60-69.99 D
    80-82.99 B-                       0-59.99 F

    Course Outline Details
     
    Date
    Reading required
    Problems to be answered 
    In-class activities
    Aug. 27
     
     
    Introduction, How to be a great math student, How to read a math book, Outline of course 
    Aug. 29
    Read Prelude, Statistics and you, Chapter 1
    Hwk: 4, 5, 8, 14, 15, 16
    Basic definitions, Discussion of Homework, Discussion of time-use data
    Sept. 3
    Read Chapter 2
    Hwk: 2, 4, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17
    Purpose of sampling, bad methods (and why they are bad), How to use the random digit table
    Sept. 5
    Read Chapter 3
    Hwk 2.7  3.1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11
    Bias in sampling, Sampling variability, margin of error, confidence statements
    Sept. 10
    Read Chapter 4, twenty questions to ask about survey results
    Hwk  spreadsheet assignment
    Chpt 3 14,15, 24, 25, 
    Chpt 4 2, 3, 4, 7, 
    Sampling Errors vs. Nonsampling Errors, Stratified sampling
    Sept. 12
    Read Chapter 5
    Hwk. Chpt. 5 , 1, 4, 6, 8,11, 13, 17, 22
    Experiments - Helicopters, randomized comparative experiments, confounding
    Sept. 17
    Read Chapter 6
    Hwk. Chpt 6  1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 19, 22
    Generalizing experiments, placebos, double-blind experiments, matched pairs and block design
    Sept. 24
    Read Chapter 7
    Hwk. Chpt 7 (be sure you are ready to discuss these questions)  1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15, 17
    Ethics of data collection, Institutional Review Board
    Sept. 26
    Read Chapter 8
    Hwk  Chpt 8 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 19, 20
    Valid, unbiased, reliable instruments
    Oct 1.
    Read Chapter 9
    Hwk Chpt 9 2, 5, 10, 17, 18, 20, 23
    Number sense, percentages
    Review for exam
    Oct. 3
    Prepare for Exam 1
    Continue to Review
    Exam 1 on Chapters 1-9
    Oct. 8
    Read Chapter 10
    Chpt. 10 1, 5, 7, 8, 15, 17, 18, 27
    Bar graphs, line graphs, trends, misleading graphs
    Oct. 10
    Read Chapter 11
     Chpt. 11, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10
    Describing the shape, center, spread of data 


    Stem plots, Histograms
    Oct. 15
    Read Chapter 12
    Chpt. 11    7, 12, 13, 15, 16
    Numerical measures of center and spread 


    Boxplots, five number summary
    Oct. 17
    Reread Chapter 11 and 12
    Chpt. 12 5, 6, 9, 15, 17, 19, 23, 28, 29, 31
    Comparison of Boxplots and Histograms
    Oct. 24
    Read Chapter 13
    The homework listed above is due
    Normal Distributions
    Oct. 29
    Read Chapter 14
    Chpt 13 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 
    Scatterplots and Correlations
    Oct. 31
    Read Chapter 15
    Chpt 13 11, 14, 16, 18, 21 


    Chpt. 14  2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 15, 17, 19, 23, 24
    Regression as a summary measure
    Nov. 5
    Reread Chapter 15
    Turn in 15.8  Do all of the odd problems in Chapter 15
    Problems of regression, review of Part II
    Nov. 7
    Prepare for Exam
    Prepare for Exam
     Exam 2 on Chapters 10-16
    Nov. 12
    Read Chapter 17
    understand Chapter 17
    Probability models, simulation of probabilities
    Nov. 14
    Read Chapter 19
    Chpt. 18 4, 5, 11,  Chpt 19 6, 8
    Simulation of probabilities
    Nov. 19
    Read Chapter 20
    Chpt. 19 7, 11, 12, 17
     Expected Values
    Nov. 21
    Read 
    Chpt. 20 3, 5, 11, 17, 19, 20
    Confidence Intervals
    Nov. 26
    Read
    Project due
    Confidence Intervals
    Dec. 3
    Read 
    Chpt 20 
    Confidence Intervals, Red M&M's
    Dec. 5
    Chapter 21 continued
    Chpt 21 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 15, 19
     Confidence Intervals, The Pepsi Challenge
     TBA
    Review Session Hoyt 166
     Review Session
     Review Session
    Dec. 13 


    3-5:30
     Final Exam 
     Final Exam 
     Final Comprehensive Exam