MATH1131B: Instruction to statistics

2024 Fall
Statistics is ubiquitous in our every day lives. It plays a key role in such areas as public policy,
health care, business, and is even used in sports and particle physics. It is arguably the most useful
“math” that you can learn.

Statistics is the science of data, and this course will introduce you to some of the basic, yet incred-
ibly useful, statistical techniques. Topics include graphical and numerical method of summarizing
both univariate and bivariate data, random variables and probability distributions, sampling vari-
ability and sampling distributions, estimation and testing using a single sample. We will consider
comparison of two populations and/or linear regression if time permits.

It is recommended that students have at least one OAC in mathematics or a 12U mathematics
course. Although students might be making use of the computer to calculate statistics, no previous
experience in computing is required. Students will receive all the necessary instruction about how
to use the statistical computer package chosen by the instructor. Although this course is recom-
mended for students who wish to major in statistics, the concepts are broadly applicable and it
should be interesting to students who do not plan to specialize in statistics.

Time & Location: Wed 7pm - 10pm CB121

Instructor: Amanda Tian
Email: [email protected]
Office hour (Zoom): Remote (zoom meeting) office hour, every Wed 9am - 10am, start from Sep
11th, ends on Nov 27.
Instructor’s zoom meeting ID: 6941673838
https://yorku.zoom.us/j/6941673838
Sign In with SSO: You are requested to join the zoom meeting using your YORK account.

Prerequisite: At least one 12U mathematics course or equivalent is recommended.

Course credit exclusion: SC/MATH 2560 3.00, SC/MATH 2930 3.00, GL/MATH/MODR 1610
3.00, SC/BIOL 2060 3.00.

Note: This course is a prerequisite for SC/MATH 2131 3.00, SC/MATH 3330 3.00, SC/MATH
3333 3.00 and SC/MATH 4143 3.00.

Course Format: This is a in-person course, requires students to attend class at York university
campus. Should it become necessary to change the mode of delivery of the course temporarily, the
date, type and weight of the planned activities could change.

Textbook: The required eBook package (with webassign) is offered. To purchase, See eclass
announcement.
Course learning outcomes:

ˆ Produce graphical displays and numerical summaries and interpret what graphs/summaries
do and do not reveal.

ˆ Use mathematical tools, including calculus and linear algebra, to study probability and math-
ematical statistics and in the description and development of statistical procedures,

ˆ Identify appropriate uses of a variety of statistical methods (both descriptive and inferential)
to answer questions, including their strengths and limitations.

ˆ Implement the computational steps involved in the management and statistical analysis of
data using a calculator/pen/paper and using R.

ˆ Interpret the results of statistical analysis and clearly communicate the results of the analysis
to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Computing: There will be a software component to the course (we will be using the free software
R). No prior knowledge is assumed.
Students will also need a device which can run R/Rstudio. Note: If you don’t have access to a
computer, webcam, microphone, consider borrowing a laptop from York U. There are also single
workspaces available for student use on campus at the library: library; better together

GRADING SCHEME:

ˆ Intro to Crowdmark assignment - 1% bonus

ˆ R-bonus - 2% bonus

ˆ WebAssign - 10%

ˆ Two assignments - 20%

ˆ test1 - 10%: Oct 9 (Tentative)

ˆ test2 - 20%: Nov 13 (Tentative)

ˆ Final exam 40%

Course policies and acknowledgements:

1. Students should attend every class, and obtain their own note. Lecture note will not be
distributed per individual’s request.

2. For a 3-credit course, the expected workload is 3 hours of material learning each week with
an additional 6 hours of work per week in studying and completing assessments. However, if
you find you are often working less than 5 hours a week in this course, then you are probably
not devoting enough time to the course.

3. To ensure academic integrity of the course, there are no make-ups in this course. Students
who miss quiz/test/midterm are to email (using their York email address) their instructor
within 48 hours of the day of the quiz/tests/midterm with a detailed/clear explanation as to
why the test was missed. Supporting documentation may be requested. Once approved, the
corresponding weight will be transferred/added to the Final exam.

4. Weight of any quiz/test/midterm will NOT be transferred if the quiz/test/midterm has been
taken. No exceptions.

5. NO extra test/work/project other than above listed grade components for this course.

6. It is students’ responsibility to be aware of all in-class announcements and eclass announce-

ments information. Ignorance is not an excuse.

7. Assignments are to be handed in on Crowdmark. It is student’s responsibility to carefully read

the requirements and adhere to them, and make sure your solutions are uploaded completed
and correctly by the due time. Any missing pages or wrongly uploaded pages will be not be
re-graded. Unclear/unreadable solution will not be graded.

8. Assignments and project(if applicable) are usually given more than one week to finish, is
NOT a time-limited work, hence rare extension. Project(if applicable) weight can not be
transferred.

9. Missed final exam: please see http://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/deferred-standing.

10. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with York University Academic Honesty &
Student Code of Conduct. All students are expected to abide by this policy. Disciplinary
action that may result in a course mark of F or grade of 0% on an assessments. check
https://www.yorku.ca/laps/decisions-petitions/academic-honesty/

11. Important Dates: check https://registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates

12. Course credit is given to those students who show commitment to the course and complete
assigned work. Students who fail to complete sufficient work in the course before the final
exam may be de-enrolled from the course without prior warning. Students may also be de-
enrolled from the course without prior warning if they lack the necessary prerequisites for
the course.
Email policy
1. It is strongly recommended that you use your York University email account.
2. Please check course website announcements before you write the email. Questions has been
answered in announcement will not be replied.
3. Please always put MATH1131 on the subject line, as I teach multiple courses.
4. Please identify yourself with your name and student number in email.
5. For additional help to clarify a content covered in class please ask during the office
hour. Such inquiries is hard to explain by email.

Technical consultant:
Student guide to Moodle(eclass): https://lthelp.yorku.ca/student-guide-to-moodle
Zoom at York: https://yorku.zoom.us/
Student Guide to eLearning: https://uit.yorku.ca/students-getting-started/
To check your internet connection, you can run tests like speedtest.

Copyright: Material (such as lecture recordings, exercise problems, tests, lecture notes, slides,
etc.) from the course is copyrighted and not to be distributed to individuals outside of the course
whether as a physical or online copy at any time before the course has started, during the tenure
of the course or after the course is completed. Individuals caught disobeying this will be charged.

Respect: When using the Moodle(eclass) forum or when asking questions during a Zoom lecture
or tutorial, you must remain courteous and respectful. Remember that Moodle(eclass) and Zoom
are simply electronic versions of a regular classroom, so the University’s Student Code of Conduct
and the Code of Rights and Responsibilities apply. Violation of the Student Code of Conduct
will result in a complaint of a breach of community standards, and sanctions could include fines,
restrictions, and suspension.

Behavior: All cell phones and pagers are to be shut off during class. It is expected that all stu-
dents are aware of their individual responsibilities under the University Policies and Regulations
(http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/policies) which will be strictly adhered to in this class. No form of
academic dishonesty will be tolerated.

Students shall note the following:

1. Zoom is hosted on servers in the U.S. This includes recordings done through Zoom.
2. If you have privacy concerns about your data, provide only your first name or a nickname when
you join a session.
3. The system is configured in a way that all participants are automatically notified when a session
is being recorded. In other words, a session cannot be recorded without you knowing about it.

Technology requirements and FAQs for Moodle(eclass) can be found here.