Probability Theory (MATH 407)
Fall 2009
39625R (9am MWF, VKC 100)

Class Schedule
Course Highlights
Homework Assignments
Some homework answers
The Project

Additional material

Please do not hesitate to talk to me about your problems, questions, or concerns in this class.

Beside the discussion sections, TA is responsible for quizzes (making, administering, and grading) and for collecting and grading homeworks.

Discussion Sections: Tu, Th, 9 and 10 am, GFS221

Save the dates! There will be ONE in-class one-hour exams (Wednesday, October 21, during regular lecture period). The two-hour final exam is Monday, December 14, 11am-1pm.

Homework, Quizzes, etc.: There will be 11 weekly quizzes, 14 homeworks, and a project. The project consits of the experimental part (to investigate the shuffle function on a digital music player) and a theoretical part (several problems that require you to look deeper into the subject of the class). You are welcome to use any help whatsoever with the homework problems and the project. Quizzes and exams are closed-book.

Grading:

• Quizzes 20%
• Homeworks, 20%
• The project: 5% experiment, 5% theory
• The Mid-Term Exam, 15%
• Final Two-Hour Exam, 35%

Books, notes, calculators. On the quizzes and exams you are on your own: All exams and quizzes are closed-book with no calculators, no notes, and no outside or inside help allowed. Make sure to turn off your cell phones and similar devices during the classes and exams.

Missed work. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes. No late submissions of homeworks (but early submissions, especially in electronic format, are welcome). If you miss the final exam, with a valid excuse, you get an incomplete in the class; an incomplete creates a major hassle for a number of people, including yourself, so, please, do not miss the final.

General Suggestions

• Read the book! In particular, I expect you to read carefully the material that has been covered during the most recent class and look through the material to be covered during the upcoming class. Read your notes and make sure you understand everything you wrote in there.
• Never read the solution of the problem before trying the problem on your own! Also, remember that the solutions/answers can have mistakes; this applies to all the problems you encounter: in the text, on the board, in your notes, etc.
• Save all your notes, including scratch paper, until after you are completely done with this class.
• If you want to discuss your performance in this class, bring all the work you have done so far (exams, homeworks, quizzes, etc.)

If you are having difficulty with this class, let me remind you that, in addition to me or the teaching assistant, there are other ways that you may receive help. The Center for Academic Support offers tutoring and learning skills instruction and computer-assisted instruction to USC students in many classes. The center is located in the Student Union Suite 301 and is open Monday through Friday. It is important to phone ahead for an appointment for learning skills at 213-740-0776. Also, your departmental adviser, or an adviser in the College Academic Services Office in CAS 100, is available to you, if you believe you should talk with someone in more general terms about your problems. Please remember that there are many people at USC who are available to help you.

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 STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone numbers for DSP are (213) 740-0776 (voice), (213) 740-6948 (TTD)
Email: ability@usc.edu
On the web: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/

USC Math Department Homepage