Undergraduate Course: Probability (MATH08066)
Course Outline
School | School of Mathematics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | A first course in Probability, assuming prior knowledge of calculus, basic combinatorics and set theory.
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Course description |
Probability theory, the mathematical description of chance, is a subject in its own right but also the bedrock on which Statistics and Data Science are built. We are surrounded by important questions involving chance but our intuition on the subject is often wrong. This course aims to give an understanding of the subject that will help you understand issues where chance plays a central role as well as preparing you for further study.
The course covers fundamental concepts and basic examples, assuming no previous knowledge of the subject. Some knowledge of calculus and basic combinatorics and set theory is assumed.
The central topics will include:
- Fundamentals of mathematical probability: sample spaces; events; independence; conditional probability and Bayes' Theorem. Discrete and continuous distributions.
- Random variables: expectation; variance; sums and products.
- Fundamental distributions: uniform; normal; binomial, geometric, Poisson, exponential and their applications.
- The idea and applications of the central limit theorem.
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | Visiting students are advised to check that they have studied the material covered in the syllabus of each pre-requisite course before enrolling. |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 400 |
Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
69 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100% |
Feedback |
Not entered |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- discuss ideas and problems in probability in a professional manner using appropriate mathematical language;
- solve standard problems on the topics covered, identifying appropriate results and methods to use and giving careful, well-expressed, accurate reasoning and calculations;
- working individually and as a group, apply the ideas and methods of the course to problems that may be longer, may extend the taught material, may involve combining different ideas or be open ended;
- learn mathematics from a variety of sources including critical and careful study of written materials;
- monitor their learning and manage their time, making judicious use of different learning resources.
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Reading List
Notes and direction to particular online resources will be provided. There are numerous books and other online resources on basic probability. One book that would be an appropriate alternative source is A First Course in Probability by Sheldon Ross.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Keywords | Prob |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Toby Bailey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5068
Email: t.n.bailey@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Martin Delaney
Tel: (0131 6)50 6427
Email: Martin.Delaney@ed.ac.uk |
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