THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Probability (MATH08066)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryA first course in Probability, assuming prior knowledge of calculus, basic combinatorics and set theory.
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.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Introduction to Linear Algebra (MATH08057) AND Calculus and its Applications (MATH08058)) OR Accelerated Algebra and Calculus for Direct Entry (MATH08062)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Probability with Applications (MATH08067)
Other requirements Some previous or concurrent experience of several variable calculus, particularly integration over regions in the plane, is desirable. Such experience could come from concurrent attendance at MATH08063 Several Variable Calculus and Differential Equations.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting 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
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) 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 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. discuss ideas and problems in probability in a professional manner using appropriate mathematical language;
  2. solve standard problems on the topics covered, identifying appropriate results and methods to use and giving careful, well-expressed, accurate reasoning and calculations;
  3. 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;
  4. learn mathematics from a variety of sources including critical and careful study of written materials;
  5. monitor their learning and manage their time, making judicious use of different learning resources.
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.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsProb
Contacts
Course organiserDr Toby Bailey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5068
Email: t.n.bailey@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Martin Delaney
Tel: (0131 6)50 6427
Email: Martin.Delaney@ed.ac.uk
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