Mathematics 5010-1
Course Syllabus
Spring Semester 2000



General Information

For more specific information, click on the appropriate button below.

The Course

This is a beginning course in the theory of probability with an emphasis on problem-solving and learning to understand and use probabilistic reasoning. For many of the students, this is their first 5000-level mathematics course and the level of difficulty comes as a surprise. This is a fast-paced course and introduces sophisticated ideas at a rapid pace. The only way to keep up is by having very good work ethics.

Lectures

The students are responsible for all of the material covered in the lectures. While the text is a very good outline of the material covered, this is not a course based on mere reading from the book.

Homeworks

Homework is assigned on a weekly basis; typically on Mondays. They are not to be turned in. However, the students are expected to have attempted all of them before the following Monday and resolved any remaining issues by the following Friday. The only way to survive this course is by keeping up with this schedule zealously.

Quizzes

There will be 5 quizzes. They could cover anything covered since the previous quiz or midterm - whichever is the more recent. The quizzes are designed to test the students work ethics. As such, they are similar to the assignments. The top 4 quizz scores will be used toward the computation of the final grade. There are no make-ups.

Exams

There will be one mid-term and one final examination. The final is a 2-hour exams and is comprehensive. The students must pass the final in order to pass the course. There are no make-ups.

Grading

To pass this course, the student must pass the final exam. The final course grade is computed from a total of 100 possible points according to the following percentages:

Quizzes40%
Midterm30%
Final30%

Letter Grades

Once the final grade point is computed (see the previous paragraph), a letter grade is assigned according to the following straight curve:

A- to A 91-100 total points
B- to B+ 76-90 total points
C- to C+ 61-75 total points
D- to D+ 50-60 total points
E 0-49 total points

Substitute Day

Monday February 21 is a university holiday (Martin Luther Day). As a result, all monday lectures meet on February 22nd at the same time and place, in order to have the requisite number of lecture hours.

Do not forget to come to lecture on Feb 22.

American with Disabilities Act

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accomodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the instructor and to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD) to make arrangements for accomodations.