Instructor: Jianfeng Zhang, KAP 248E, (213)740-9805, jianfenz@usc.edu , dornsife.usc.edu/jianfeng-zhang/
Teaching Assistant: Zimu Zhu <zimuzhu@usc.edu>
Time and location:
- Lecture (39631R): MWF 10:00am – 10:50am, online
- Discussion (39632R): TTh 2:00pm-2:50pm, online
- Discussion (39633R): TTh 3:00pm-3:50pm, online
Office hours: M F 9:00-10:00am and W: 8:00-9:00pm online (email me for Zoom link), or by appointment
Textbook: Mathematical Statistics with Applications, 7th Edition, by Dennis D. Wackerly, William Mendenhall III, Richard L. Scheaffer
Prerequisite: Math 407
Important Dates (make-up exams will be arranged for students living in different time zones):
- MidExam 1: February 19, Friday
- MidExam 2: March 22, Monday
- FinalExam: May 10, Monday, 8:00am-10:00am
Course Contents: I plan to cover most of Chapters 7-11. The main topics include:
• Sampling distribution and the central limit theorem
• Point estimators; Maximum Likelihood Estimation; Method of Moments
• Hypothesis testing; Large-sample tests; p-values; Likelihood-ratio tests
If time permits, we will cover selected topics from later chapters.
Grading and Examination Policies
40% of the grade will be based on two midterm exams (20% each), 40% will be based on the final exam, 20% will be based on homework assignments/quizs. The grade cutoffs will be decided after the final exam, based on the students’ overall achievements.
The (50 minutes) midterm exams will be given in regular class time. The 2nd midterm exam will cover the material after the 1st exam. The final exam will be comprehensive, with an emphasis on the material covered since the second Midterm. The exam problems will be in the same style as the examples in lectures and/or homework problems. All exams are open books, but you are not allowed to ask for help from others. Calculators are allowed.
Homework problems will be assigned weekly. No late homework will be accepted, but missed homework with valid reasons can be excused. You are permitted and even encouraged to discuss homework problems with classmates. However, you are not permitted to copy solutions from others.
Quizs will be given in Discussion class. More details about homework and quizs will be specified in discussion class.
Feedback and Questions
It is extremely important for me to get feedback and questions, both inside and outside class. You are very welcome to visit me during my office hours, and/or make appointments to see me at other time.
Statement for Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in GFS 120. Its phone number is (213) 740-0776 and website is: https://dsp.usc.edu.
Statement on Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code and the recommended sanctions: https://policy.usc.edu/student/scampus/. Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: https://sjacs.usc.edu/students/.