620-205 Probability for Statistics

Students may only gain credit for one of 620-201, 620-205, 620-370, 431-325.

Students taking this subject must achieve a mark of H2B or above in the subject to proceed to 620-301.

Students undertaking Actuarial Studies should take 620-201 instead of 620-205.

One of 620-120 (UMEP Maths for High Achieving Students), 620-121, 620-140, 620-141 and one of 620-131, 620-113, 620-123, 620-143, [05]620-193.

This subject develops the probability theory that is necessary to understand statistical inference. Properties of probability are reviewed, random variables are introduced, and their properties are developed and illustrated through common univariate probability models. Models for the joint behaviour of random variables are introduced, along with conditional probability and Markov chains. Methods for obtaining the distributions of functions of random variables are considered along with techniques to obtain the exact and approximate distributions of sums of random variables. These methods will be illustrated through some well known normal approximations to discrete distributions and by obtaining the exact and approximate distributions of some commonly used statistics. Computer packages are used for numerical and theoretical calculations but no programming skills are required.

Up to 30 pages of written assignments due during the semester (20%); a 45-minute computer laboratory test held mid-semester (10%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (70%).