STATS 225 : Probability: Theory and Applications
Science
2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course will provide an introduction to probability through some classical theory, useful techniques, and stochastic models fundamental to many applications. It should provide a solid mathematical foundation for more advanced courses in probability or mathematical statistics, and is important for anyone who wants to advance to honours or masters level in these areas.
Before taking this course students should ideally have a some basic background in probability (at least Grade B+ in one of STATS 125, ENGGEN 150, or ENGSCI 111) as well as good mathematics (at least Grade B+ in MATHS 120 and MATHS 130, or equivalent). Some more advanced mathematical topics should also be studied at the same time as, or before, taking this course (at least one of ENGSCI 211, MATHS 208, or MATHS 250).
This course will also provide an excellent preparation for more advanced courses in probability (such as STATS325, STATS710, STATS720, or STATS723).
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and apply the main concepts underlying probability theory (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
- Work effectively with probabilities, expectations, and random variables (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply generating function methods to solve various problems in probability (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Organise a mathematical calculation for coherence and readability (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Produce clearly reasoned proofs in probability at an appropriate level of difficulty (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Understand and use fundamental stochastic models and their basic properties to solve problems in probability (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Solve a variety of problem in probability (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 60% | Individual Examination |
| Coursework | 10% | Individual Test |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Coursework | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Coursework | ||||||||||
A mark of at least 40% in the final exam and 50% overall is required to pass this course.
Key Topics
Topics may include: Probability measures. Event spaces. Borel sigma-algebra. Properties of probabilities, including continuity of probability. Fundamental model of Uniform probability measure on [0,1] and Lebesgue-Borel Theorem (statement). Independence. Borel-Cantelli Lemmas. Random variables. Expectation. Monotone Convergence Theorem (statement). Conditional probability and expectation. Conditional expectation with respect to a random variable. Generating functions techniques: PGFs, MGFs, Characteristic functions and Laplace transforms. Convergence of generating functions. Types of convergence. Weak Law of Large Numbers. Strong Law of Large Numbers (proof of special case). Central Limit Theorem (sketch proof). Random walks. First return times. First passage times. Gambler's ruin. Reflection principle. Ballot Theorem. Recurrence of random walks. Branching processes: discrete time Galton-Watson process, extinction probabilities, population size. Poisson processes: characterisations, inter-arrival times, gamma distributions, thinning and conditional uniformity. Poisson point processes (PPPs) on R^n. Examples of PPPs with non-constant intensities.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week working on this course. (In general, students are expected to spend about 10 hours per point for each course that they are enrolled in, in particular, 150 hours in total for a 15 point course including preparation for examinations.)
For this course, each week you might typically expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3-5 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 3-5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Participation is strongly recommended at all scheduled activities (including tutorials) to successfully complete this course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities such as in-person tutorials will not typically be available as recordings, but the course may additionally include live online tutorials. Online Q&A help will also be available via Piazza on the course Canvas site. All course materials will be made available online via Canvas.
Courseworks may be submitted online via Canvas. Attendance on campus is not required for any mid-semester test, which will be online where applicable. The final exam will normally be on campus.
The activities for the course will be scheduled as a standard weekly timetable over the 12 week teaching period of the semester.
Learning Resources
- "Probability: an introduction" by G.R.Grimmett and D. Welsh (Oxford University Press). This is a good introductory book. Available to read online from UoA library
- "Probability and Random Processes" by Geoffrey Grimmett and David Stirzaker (Oxford University Press). This is a very useful book that covers many topics in probability, including some more advanced topics. Available in the UoA library.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.