Mathematics 350, Summer 2007

Illinois State University – Mathematics Department

Instructors

Classes Meet

Every weekday, June 25, 2007 — August 10, 2007, 11:55 a.m. — 1:25 p.m., in STV 121.

Office Hours

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 11:00-11:45 a.m. Please ask for an appointment at other times.

Textbooks

You can use either of these books:
Modern Mathematical Statistics with Applications, by Jay L. Devore and Kenneth N. Berk.

ASM Study Manual for the Course P/1 Examination, by Krzysztof M. Ostaszewski.

The books should be available at the ISU Bookstore. If not, please try Alamo II, Actex Publications, The Actuarial Bookstore, or Slide Rule Books. The class will be structured so that you can use any reasonable probability book, as long as it covers the entire material of the Society of Actuaries Course P (same as Casualty Actuarial Society Course 1) examination. Detailed information about the content of that examination is provided here: http://www.casact.org/admissions/syllabus/index.cfm?fa=exam. Older editions of the ASM Manual for Course P/1 Examination are available on reserve at the Milner Library and at the Library of the Department of Mathematics.

Objective

The objective of this class is to help you learn about calculus-based probability theory. The class will cover all of the material tested on the Society of Actuaries Course P examination (same as the Casualty Actuarial Society Course 1 examination).

Grading

There will be one midterm and five final examinations. You can have a make-up test if you miss a test, but all make-ups will be new, original tests. Any make-up must be requested at least five days in advance of the proposed date for the make-up (not the date of the original test). The last day for any possible make-up request is August 3, 2007. Any make-up requests made after that date cannot be accommodated under any circumstances. A student who misses tests scheduled after August 3, 2007 and has a passing grade up to that date will receive a grade of Incomplete and will have to complete the class in the next term. If you request a make-up for a real reason, such as medical need, or a job interview, and provide a proof of such reason, your make-up will be of the same level of difficulty as the original test. If you request a make-up for a frivolous reason, such as scheduling your vacation travel, convenience, time to study for other classes (you know what classes you sign up at the beginning of the semester, thus you should plan accordingly, and you can do so, because this class is completely planned for you well in advance), the make-up test will be intentionally more difficult, and will be at least as difficult, and most likely significantly more so, as the real actuarial examination. Any of the last five tests can count as the final. The final will count as 40% of your grade, and the best two of the remaining tests will count as 30% of your grade each. You will also receive up to 20% extra credit for the best of the your three worst tests. The grading scale will be as follows: 90% or better — A, 80% to 90% — B, 70% to 80% — C, 60% to 70% — D, below 60% — F. Graduate students taking this class for graduate credit will have their scores on tests multiplied by a factor of 0.9, and will be assigned additional work in order to get a graduate-level credit for the class.

Disability concerns

Any student needing a special accommodation for a documented disability should contact Disability Concerns at Fell Hall, Room 350.

Administrative matters

Once a course has begun, students will need to obtain departmental permission to add a course even if seats are available. Beginning May 22, 2007, students must register in-person at the Student Service & Referral Center, 107 Moulton Hall. Withdrawal dates for summer courses can be found on the Registrar’s Web site at http://www.registrar.ilstu.edu/crd/withdrawal/.

Schedule of classes

• Monday, June 25, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Tuesday, June 26, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Wednesday, June 27, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Thursday, June 28, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Friday, June 29, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Monday, July 2, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Tuesday, July 3, 2007. General probability concepts.
• Wednesday, July 4, 2006. Independence Day holiday. No class.
• Thursday, July 5, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Friday, July 6, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Monday, July 9, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Tuesday, July 10, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Wednesday, July 11, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Thursday, July 12, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Friday, July 13, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Monday, July 16, 2007. Random variables and probability distributions.
• Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Review.
• Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Test No. 1, covering general probability concepts, random variables, and probability distributions.
• Thursday, July 19, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Friday, July 20, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Monday, July 23, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Thursday, July 26, 2007. Multivariate distributions.
• Friday, July 27, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Monday, July 30, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Tuesday, July 31, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Wednesday, August 1, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Thursday, August 2, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Friday, August 3, 2007. Applications of probability.
• Monday, August 6, 2007, Test No. 2, comprehensive.
• Tuesday, August 7, 2007, Test No. 3, comprehensive.
• Wednesday, August 8, 2007, Test No. 4, comprehensive.
• Thursday, August 9, 2007, Test No. 5, comprehensive.
• Friday, August 10, 2007, Test No. 6, comprehensive.

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All information contained here is, to our best knowledge, correct, but it is merely a representation, and should not be considered to be any form of professional advice. This electronic publication should not be misconstrued as the official position of Illinois State University, or its Department of Mathematics. We are glad to provide as much information as possible here, but we kindly ask that in any decision related to matters listed here you seek additional counsel and information. Comments on this Home Page are welcome and should be sent to Dr. Krzysztof Ostaszewski  at his e-mail address: krzysio@ilstu.edu.