MAT 131 COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Carol Murphy                                   Office Hours:

Phone: 847-635-1961

Email: murphy@oakton.edu

Office: 2604 Des Plaines Campus

 

I.

 

Course Prefix

Course Number

Course Name

Credit

Lecture

Lab

MAT

 

131

 

Elementary Statistics

4

4

 

0

 

                                                                         

           

 

  II. Prerequisites:

MAT 053 or geometry proficiency; and MAT 120, Intermediate Algebra, or the equivalent with a grade of C or better, or an appropriate score on the OCC Mathematics Assessment Test.

III. Course Description:

This course is an introduction to modern statistics for students in physical, biological and social sciences. Frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and variation, elements of probability theory, statistical inference, sampling techniques and correlation and regression are studied. This course will incorporate the use of technology when appropriate.

IV. Course Objectives:

A. Compute the measures of central tendency and dispersion.
B. Understand and construct frequency distributions.
C. Understand and calculate probabilities.
D. Understand probability distributions, including the binomial distribution.
E. Compute probabilities as related to normal distributions.
F. Apply the Central Limit Theorem.
G. Understand and construct confidence intervals.
H. Understand the nature of hypothesis testing and estimation.
I. Draw statistical inferences about one population concerning the mean, the standard deviation or variance, and proportions.
J. Draw statistical inferences about two populations concerning the mean, the standard deviation or variance, and proportions.
K. Calculate the linear correlation coefficients and the regression lines.
L. Draw statistical inferences concerning multinomial experiments and contingency tables.

V. Academic Integrity:  

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This

code prohibits:

 

  • cheating,
  • plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
  • falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
  • helping others to cheat,
  • unauthorized changes on official documents,
  • pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
  • making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
  • any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

 

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you.  If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

 

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

 

VI. Outline of Topics:

 

A. Descriptive Methods

1. Frequency distribution and graphing
2. Measures of location - mean, median, quartiles, percentiles
3. Measures of variation – variance, standard deviation

 

B. Basic Probability

1. Sample space, counting, factorials
2. Combinations, permutations
3. Probability laws

 

C. Probability Distributions

1. Uniform distribution
2. Normal distribution and normal curve
3. Hyper-geometric distribution
4. Binomial distribution and its relation to the normal distribution
5. Random samples and sampling techniques
6. Student t distribution
7. Chi-square distribution

 

D. Statistical Inference

1. Point estimates, confidence intervals and sample size.
2. The classical appropriate to hypothesis testing
3. The probability - value approach to hypotheses testing
4. Inferences involving one population with regard to means, standard deviation or variance, and proportions
5. Inferences involving two populations with regards to means, standard deviation or variance, and proportions
6. Coefficient of correlation and regression lines
7. Multinomial experiments and contingency tables

VII. Methods of Instruction:

Methods of instruction include lectures, class participation and dialogue, in-class problems, group work, exercises involving a calculator, class handouts, quizzes and exams.

VIII. Course Practices Required:

The student is responsible for reading the assigned material and for homework.  All assignments must be handed in on time.  TI 83 calculators required.

IX. Instructional Materials:

Required Textbook:
Elementary Statistics by M. Triola, Custom Edition. Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004.
ISBN: 0-536-82785-0.

Required Materials: A TI-83 graphics calculator.

 

Tutoring is available in the Learning Center (Room 2414, DP and A135 RHC)

X.

Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

1.      There will be five chapter tests. The lowest grade will be dropped and the average of the remaining 4 will count for 90% of the course grade. One page (8.5x11) of notes will be allowed for each test.

2.      Homework will count for 10% of the final grade.

On the day of each test the homework for the material covered on that test will be collected. Late homework will not be accepted. You will have 10 homework assignments, each worth 10 points.  Homework must show all work for each problem.  No credit will be awarded for any homework with answers only and no work showing.

     Grading Scale

     90-100 = A         80-89 = B      70-79 = C      65-69 = D      Below 64 = F

Makeup Tests:

One makeup test will be allowed for the semester. It is suggested that you save it for a true emergency. Please leave a message with the division office of instructor’s voice mail prior to test. The instructor must be contacted and the test made up prior to the next class. A copy of the test will be left in the testing center at the campus where your class is held. You must be at the testing center before the start of the next class.

Attendance:

A good part of the educational experience is classroom attendance. If you miss a class you must learn that material on your own which is usually much more difficult. You are responsible for all announcements made and work covered during your absence. Attendance is, therefore, strongly recommended! It is important to understand that one of the main causes of failure in this course is poor attendance.

XI.

Other Course Information:

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.