ST 301
STATISTICAL METHODS I
Section 001 For Mature, Motivated, Disciplined
Students
If a man will begin with certainties he
will end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall
end in certainties.
Francis Bacon, Advancement of Learning
It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.
John Dewey
If you don't believe in random sampling, the next time you have a blood test tell the doctor to take it all.
Statistics myths this course will disprove:
Myth1: "If I had one hour left to live, I would live it in statistics
class because it would seem to last forever!"
A student's lament
Myth 2: "If it moves, it's biology; if it changes color, it's
chemistry; if it breaks, it's physics; if it puts you to sleep, it's statistics.
Bob Hogg, University of Iowa
Myth 3: Math class is tough!
Barbie's 1992 voice chip by Mattell
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Beginning of Semester
Fall 2006
"But where shall I begin?"asked Alice. "Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go on till you come to the end; then stop."
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
So, What Is (Are) Statistics?
Q: What is Statistics?
A: Statistics is a way of reasoning, along with a collection of tools and methods, to help us understand the world.
Q: What are statistics?
A: Statistics (plural) are particular calculations made from data.
Q: What are data?
A: Data (singular form is datum) are values along with their context.
"We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and to know the place for the first time."
T.S. Eliot
Welcome to ST 301 Section 001!!
Our first class meeting will be 10:15-11:30 Thursday, August 24 in Harrelson Hall Room 100
Throughout the semester we will meet in Harrelson Hall, Room 100, T TH, 10:15-11:30. Check Registration and Records now to be certain that you are enrolled in the class.
IMPORTANT ITEMS
- Webassign will be used for homework submission.
- EMAIL I will frequently communicate with the class using email. The email address that I will use to contact you is the address on file at Registration and Records. Be certain that this address is the one to which you want your course-related email sent. This will ensure that you receive important course information in a timely manner. You can change your email address at the Registration and Records homepage by clicking on the TRACS LINK.
- AUTOMATING CALCULATIONS To be successful in this course you will find it very helpful to automate calculations. I strongly advise that you become familiar with the statistical capabilities of your favorite calculator (click here for calculator help), MS Excel, or any other software program you prefer to use. We will also make frequent use of the online statistical computing and graphing capabilities at Statcrunch.
- COURSE TEXT The text for the course is Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, 5 ed., by David Moore and George McCabe, WH Freeman & Co. 2006 ISBN 0-7167-6400-8
See you the first day of class!
UPDATES DURING THE SEMESTER
Dr. Reiland's office hours: M W 11:00-12:00, H 3:00-4:00, 215A Patterson Hall.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Youfang Liu, email: yliu7@ncsu.edu; new (9/27) office hours to better serve you: T, TH 11:30-1:30; room 9, Patterson Hall.
Course Information Links
- Complete course information (syllabus, grading scale, exam dates, etc.) (pdf).
Help for Students
- Statistics on TI Graphing Calculators (pdf)
- Web-based Assistance for Most Brands of Calculators
-
- Tutors
- Link to Random Digit Table (Table B in text) (pdf) Note: click on Tables link at this url; Table B is on pp. 3-4.
FINAL EXAM ANNOUNCEMENT
FINAL EXAM INFORMATION
- Time and Place: 8 -11am, Thurs. Dec. 14, HA 100
- Office hours: M(Dec. 11) 1-2; T(Dec. 12) 10-11; W(Dec. 13) 1-2. 215A Patterson Hall
MATERIAL COVERED
- Chapter 3 sections 3.1 - 3.4
- Chapter 4: sections 4.1 - 4.5
- Factorials, permutations, combinations
- Webassign homework 9 - 12; lecture worksheets 17-24
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Format; What to Bring
- Format will be similar to that of the two midterm exams
- Bring at least 2 pencils with erasers
- Bring calculator; replace batteries if you have ANY doubt about remaining battery life
- Bring 8.5 x 11sheet full of helpful notes
- Standard normal table will be provided
End of final exam announcement.
