Welcome to Probability!

General Course Info

Instructor

Yixin (Kathy) Lin
Office: 247 Kemeny Hall
Email: Yixin.lin.gr@dartmouth.edu
Office Hours: MWF 3:15-4:00 pm; Thu 1:20-2:10 pm (x-hour).

Prerequisite

Math 8 (Calculus of functions in one and several variables).

Textbook

Introduction to ProbabilityLinks to an external site. by Laurie Snell and Charles Grinstead (free online; or ISBN-13: 978-0821807491).

Lectures

Lectures will be in person in Kemeny 105, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:10 pm to 3:15 pm.

Tutorials

TA: Yanbing Gu
Drop-in tutorials will be in person in Kemeny 006, Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9pm; on zoom Sunday from 7pm to 9pm. Tutorials are optional, but feel free to come by to work on course material and get help as needed.

(Tentative) Daily Schedule

Date	Topics	References
June 24	NO CLASS
June 27	Course overview & Discrete probability distributions	Chapter 1
June 29	Discrete probability distributions & Continuous probability densities	Chapter 1 & 2
June 30	Continuous probability densities	Chapter 2
July 1	Continuous probability densities
July 4	Independence Day --- NO CLASS
July 6	Permutations	Chapter 3
July 7	Combinations	Chapter 3
July 8	Combinations
July 11	Important distributions	Chapter 5
July 13	Review
July 15	Important densities (Normal Distribution Table.pdf)	Chapter 5
July 18	Discrete conditional probability	Chapter 4
July 20	Discrete conditional probability
July 22	Discrete conditional probability
July 25	Continuous conditional probability	Chapter 4
July 27	Expected value and variance for discrete random variables	Chapter 6
July 29	Expected value and variance for discrete random variables
Aug 1	Expected value and variance for continuous random variables	Chapter 6
Aug 3	Review
Aug 5	Sums of discrete random variables	Chapter 7
Aug 8	Sums of continuous random variables	Chapter 7
Aug 10	Law of large numbers for discrete random variables	Chapter 8
Aug 12	Central limit theorem	Chapter 9
Aug 15	Central limit theorem
Aug 17	Generating Functions	Chapter 10
Aug 19	Generating Functions
Aug 22	Markov chains	Chapter 11
Aug 24	Markov chains

Assignments

Topic	Percentage of Total Grade
Quizzes	15%
Weekly Homework	20%
Midterm Exams	35%
Final Exam	30%

Quizzes

There will be an open-book non-collaborative quiz assigned (on Canvas) after the end of the class, and due at the beginning of the next class. It will consist one multiple choice or T/F question working through the main ideas of the most recent class. Only the highest 15 will take into account. No make up quiz.

Weekly Homework

Each Wednesday there will be weekly homework assigned at the beginning of the class. The homework will be due the following Wednesday at the beginning of the class.

Writing down the right answer is not equivalent to solving a problem, so please provide intermediate steps and explain your thought, and your solution will be evaluated as a whole.

You are encouraged to collaborate, but the solutions must be written individually. You must state with whom you have collaborated, and from whom you have received help. I strongly recommend you to learn how to use LaTeX. It makes writing math meaningfully easier, especially when (as in this class) your proofs are expected to be written out in sentences and paragraphs.

The lowest weekly homework will be dropped. Late homework will not be accepted.

Midterm Exams

There will be two weeklong, take-home midterms. They will take the place of the weekly homework in the week they are assigned, although they will be slightly longer and more comprehensive. They will be assigned July 13th and Aug 3rd, and due July 20th and Aug 10th, respectively. Your midterms are combined worth 35% of your grade; the one you do better on is worth 20% and the other, 15%.

Exams will not be collaborative. Specific resources that can be used on exams will be written in the instructions for the exam; any resource not specifically named cannot be used on that exam.

Final Exam

There will be a 12-day-long, take-home final. Tentatively, it will be assigned Aug 17th, and due Monday, Aug 29th, at 5 PM. This is the last time at which I can accept final exams, so extensions can unfortunately not be granted. These dates are subject to change.

Exams will not be collaborative. Specific resources that can be used on exams will be written in the instructions for the exam; any resource not specifically named cannot be used on that exam.

Honour Principle

Information on the Academic Honor Principle can be found on Dartmouth’s website: https://students.dartmouth.edu/judicial-affairs/policy/Links to an external site.academic-honor-principle

Student Accessibility and Accommodations

Students with disabilities who may need disability-related academic adjustments and services for this course are encouraged to see me privately as early in the term as possible. Students requiring disability-related academic adjustments and services must consult the Student Accessibility Services office by phone: 646-9900 or email: Stu dent.Accessibility.Services@Dartmouth.edu.

Once SAS has authorized services, students must show the originally signed SAS Services and Consent Form and/or a letter on SAS letterhead to me. As a first step, if you have questions about whether you qualify to receive academic adjustments and services, you should contact the SAS office. All inquiries and discussions will remain confidential.

Mental Health

The academic environment at Dartmouth is challenging, our terms are intensive, and classes are not the only demanding part of your life. There are a number of resources available to you on campus to support your wellness, including your undergraduate dean (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~upperde/Links to an external site.), Counseling and Human Development
(http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chd/Links to an external site.), and the Student Wellness Center (http://www.Links to an external site.dartmouth.edu/~healthed/Links to an external site.). Remember, mental and physical health should be your number one priority!

Religious Observances

Some students may wish to take part in religious observances that occur during this academic term. If you have a religious observance that conflicts with your participation in the course, please meet with me as soon as possible, preferably before the end of the second week of the term to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Title IX

At Dartmouth, we value integrity, responsibility, and respect for the rights and interests of others, all central to our Principles of Community. We are dedicated to establishing and maintaining a safe and inclusive campus where all have equal access to the educational and employment opportunities Dartmouth offers. We strive to promote an environment of sexual respect, safety, and well-being. In its policies and standards, Dartmouth demonstrates unequivocally that sexual assault, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are not tolerated in our community.

The Sexual Respect Website (https://sexual-respect.dartmouth.eduLinks to an external site.) at Dartmouth provides a wealth of information on your rights with regard to sexual respect and resources that are available to all in our community.

Please note that, as a faculty member, I am obligated to share disclosures regarding conduct under Title IX with Dartmouth’s Title IX Coordinator. Confidential resources are also available, and include licensed medical or counseling professionals (e.g., a licensed psychologist), staff members of organizations recognized as rape crisis centers under state law (such as WISE), and ordained clergy (seehttps://dartgo.org/titleix_resources (Links to an external site.)).

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dartmouth’s Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Guarini School. Their contact information can be found on the sexual respect website at: https://sexual-respect.dartmouth.eduLinks to an external site..