Stats 117: Introduction to Probability

As noted on the course information page, we will cover the following topics (time permitting):

• Counting and sets (1 week)

• Axioms of probability (1 week)

• Independence and conditional probability (1 week)

• Random variables (2 weeks)

• Joint distributions and multiple random variables (2 weeks)

• Continuous random variables (2 weeks)

Lectures and course schedule (at least as planned)

We strongly recommend completing the readings (and will assume you have completed the readings in Sun et al.'s The Art of Chance). We will list supplementary chapters in Ross's First Course in Probability by the name Ross, chapters in Blitzstein and Hwang's Introduction to Probability by BH. These are not required, but often give excellent alternative perspective.

We recommend taking notes on the slides we have prepared as a way to organize your thoughts and the material from the course. Mueller and Oppenheimer's study, The Pen is Mightier than the Keyboard, suggests that note-taking is more effective for learning and remembering material than either typing or just paying attention.