Topics to Know For Exams

EXAM 1

CHAPTER 1 (1.1 1.4) Summarizing Data Graphically and Numerically

Population vs Sample

Parameter vs Statistic

Variable

Sampling Frame

Know how to calculate descriptive statistics

Mean, median, variance, standard deviation, percentiles, quartiles, 5-number summary

Stem-and-Leaf Plots know how to construct and read one

Know how to construct and interpret a boxplot

Know how to interpret a histogram

Shape Unimodal vs Bimodal

Positive (right) skewed vs Negative (left) skewed vs Symmetric

Know which statistics are more appropriate for symmetric distributions vs skewed distributions

Know how the mean compares to the median in skewed distributions.

Know how multiplying and adding constants to all values in a sample affect the sample mean, median,
variance and standard deviation

CHAPTER 2 (2.1 2.5) Probability

Sample Space (S)

Events

Null vs Sure

Simple vs Compound

Union (A B)

Intersection (A B)

Complement (AC or A)

Disjoint

Mutually Disjoint Events

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Probabilities

P(AC) =

P(A B) =

P(A B C) =

P(A B) =

P(A B C) =

Know how the formula for P(A B) changes when A and B are disjoint and when they are
independent.

Know how to interpret 2-way tables. For example, the Health Plan vs Dental Plan in your notes.

Counting

General Product Rule

Ordered vs Unordered

With Replacement vs Without Replacement

Permutations

Combinations

NOTE: I will NOT test you on Unordered With Replacement. The other 3 counting methods are
fair game.

Conditional Probability

Bayes Theorem (Law of Total Probability)

Multiplication Rule

Independence

Mutually Independent Events

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CHAPTER 3 (3.1 3.6) Discrete Random Variables and Probability Distributions

Random Variable

Discrete vs Continuous

Probability Mass Function (pmf)

Cumulative Distribution Function (cdf)

Know how to manipulate cdf to find P(X = a), P(X > a) or P(a X b) and the like.

Be able to find E(X) = X, V(X) = 2 and .

Know the pmf, X, and 2 for the following distributions:

Bernoulli

Binomial

Hypergeometric

Negative Binomial

Poisson

Note: Poisson Process will not be covered.

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EXAM 2

CHAPTER 4 (1.1 4.4) Continuous Random Variables

Probability Density Function (pdf)

Know how to find the CDF of a continuous random variable

Use the CDF to find probabilities and percentiles.

Mean and variance of a continuous random variable

Uniform Distribution: pdf, mean, variance

Gamma Distribution: pdf, mean, variance

Exponential Distribution: pdf, mean, variance, memoryless property

Normal and Standard Normal Distributions: pdf, mean, variance

z critical values

CHAPTER 5 (5.1 5.5) Joint Distributions and Sampling Distributions of Statistics

Understand joint discrete and continuous distributions.

Note: you will not be asked to work with a joint continuous distribution

Independence of two random variables

Expected Value of a function of two random variables

Note: Covariance, correlation and bivariate normal in 5.2 will not be covered on exam 2.

Know how to find the sampling distribution of a statistic.

Central Limit Theorem (Rule of Thumb: applicable when n 30)

Know the mean, variance and distribution of and when the are normal and not normal

In section 5.5, know equations 5.8, 5.9 and 5.10.

CHAPTER 7 (7.1) Confidence Intervals Based on a Single Sample

Understand significance levels () and confidence levels (C).

Know how to calculate confidence intervals of any confidence level.

Understand what the margin of error is and what affects the size of the margin of error.

Know how to calculate the sample size necessary to achieve a certain size margin of error.

Understand how to interpret a confidence interval of a certain confidence level.

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EXAM 3

This will not be a comprehensive final but as in all mathematically inclined classes, knowledge of the
material is cumulative to some degree. The emphasis of the final will be Chapters 5, 7 and 8. You will be
expected to know how to calculate the mean and variance of a discrete random variable as well as the
sample mean and variance. Understand pmfs and pdfs as well as what a cdf is.

CHAPTER 5 (5.1 5.5) Joint Distributions and Sampling Distributions of Statistics

Understand joint discrete and continuous distributions.

Note: you will not be asked to work with a joint continuous distribution

Independence of two random variables

Expected Value of a function of two random variables

Note: Covariance, correlation and bivariate normal in 5.2 will not be covered on exam 2.

Know how to find the sampling distribution of a statistic.

Central Limit Theorem (Rule of Thumb: applicable when n 30)

Know the mean, variance and distribution of and when the are normal and not normal

In section 5.5, know equations 5.8, 5.9 and 5.10.

CHAPTER 7 (7.1 7.3) Confidence Intervals Based on a Single Sample

Understand significance levels () and confidence levels (C).

Know how to calculate 2-sided confidence intervals of any confidence level for both population means
and proportions p.

NOTE: in the text, the author uses a more complicated formula for the confidence interval for a
proportion. Use the formula we discussed in class and that is in the notes.

Understand what the margin of error is and what affects the size of the margin of error.

Know how to calculate the sample size necessary to achieve a certain size margin of error.

Understand how to interpret a confidence interval of a certain confidence level.

You will not be asked to calculate one-sided confidence intervals mentioned at the end of 7.2.

Know when to use the critical values t from the t distribution rather than the z critical values when
calculating the confidence intervals for .

Prediction and tolerance intervals will not be covered.

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CHAPTER 8 (8.1 8.4) Tests of Hypotheses Based on a Single Sample

Null (H0) vs alternative (Ha) hypotheses. (Always statements about a parameter.)

How and when to calculate Z vs t test statistics for hypothesis tests involving the mean parameter .

How to calculate the test statistic for hypothesis tests involving the proportion parameter p.

Know the appropriate p-value calculation for each possible form of Ha.

Understand the definitions of Type I and Type II Errors.

You will not need to know how to calculate Type I or Type II errors nor the power of a test.