Introduction to Probability 2011/012


This page is maintained by Robert Johnson. It should contain all exercises sheets and handouts which have been given out. Suggestions on the content of this page are welcome.

Module Information

Notes

Exercise Sheets

Other Stuff


Module Information

Module Information This handout contains important information about the module.

A syllabus can be found on the official school page for the module here.

The learning outcomes describe the most important things you should learn from the module.

Mid-term Test Information This handout describes the arrangements for the mid-term test in week 7.

End of Term Test Information This handout describes the arrangements for the end of term test in week 12.

Mid-term Test Comments This handout gives some general feedback on the mid-term test. I have tried to describe some common mistakes and suggest how you can improve your preparation for future tests. Don't forget to collect your test script at your week 10 tutorial class.

There is a similar handout of End of Term Test Comments. You can collect your test script from the maths department office.

The library webpage contains some past exam papers. Before 2011 the module was called Probability I but the syllabus has been the same since 2008. If you attempt any of these papers and would like me to comment on your solutions then please come to an office hour.


Notes

Your own lecture notes are the definitive guide to what is in the course. Anything lectured which is not explicitly described as non-examinable may appear in the test or exam. The notes which will appear below as the course progresses are a summary only of what was lectured. They should be a useful guide to the most important concepts and results. However, they may not contain all of the examples or explanation I gave in lectures. These are NOT a substitute for your own notes.

Weeks 1 and 2 (Sample Space and Events, Sets and Functions)

Week 3 (Axioms for Probability)

Week 4 (Sampling)

Weeks 5 and 6 (Independence and Conditional Probability)

Week 8 (Conditional Probability continued)

Week 9 (Introduction to Random Variables)

Week 10 (Some Special Discrete Random Variables)

Week 11 (Continuous Random Variables)

Week 12 (Working with Several Discrete Random Variables)

Part of the hidden agenda of this module (and your other first year modules) is to introduce you to ways of thinking which you will need as mathematicians. Below are a few handouts which discuss this kind of thing. Some of these have been covered in lectures either directly or in passing (but do not really belong in the summary notes); some of them relate to problem sheets.

Basic Ideas of Logic and Proof

Types of Mathematical Object

Checking Your Work

The three links below are useful references for mathematical notation and terminology.

The phrase book (of basic words and symbols of higher mathematics)

Peter Cameron's list of mathematical notation

Types of mathematical statement (Theorems, Lemmas, Conjectures etc.)


Exercise Sheets

Exercise Sheet 1 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 2 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 3 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 4 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 5 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 6 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 7 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 8 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 9 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 10 (Solutions)

Exercise Sheet 11 (Solutions)


Other Stuff

2008/09 mid-term test

2007/08 mid-term test

2006/07 mid-term test

2010/11 end of term test (Solutions. These were from a previous lecturer so some of the references to what was similar to coursework may be different.)

2009/10 end of term test (Solutions)

Introduction to Probability, by Charles M. Grinstead and J. Laurie Snell, a free textbook with lots of exercises.

Peter Cameron's notes for a previous version of the course. Be warned that the material was slightly different and was covered in a slightly different way. The notation used is also different in some places.


Last changed: 17 January 2012