Math 10 Elementary Statistics

West Valley College – Spring 2020

Course Information Contact Information

CRN: 32429 Instructor: Amy Vu
Meeting Days: MTTh Phone: (408) 741-2567
Meeting Times: 10:55 AM – 12:10 PM Email: [email protected]
Room: SM 6 Office Location: SM 4H
Office Hours: Monday 2:45 – 3:25 PM
Tuesday 12:20 – 2:00 PM
Wednesday 2:45 – 3:25 PM
Thursday 12:20 – 1:00 PM

Course Description
This course covers the use of probability techniques, hypothesis testing, and predictive techniques to
facilitate decision-making. Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions;
statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-square and t-tests; and
application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the
statistical findings. Applications discussed use data from disciplines including business, social sciences,
psychology, life science, health science, and education.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Given visual displays of the distribution of several variables, compare and contrast the distributions,
including discussions of center, spread, symmetry, skewness, and outliers.
2. Given the description of a study in which an interval estimate or the result of a hypothesis test is
provided, interpret the results of the interval estimate or hypothesis test.

Course Objectives
• Formulate hypothesis tests involving samples from one and two populations.
• Distinguish the difference between sample and population distributions and analyze the role played
by the Central Limit Theorem.
• Calculate the mean and variance of a discrete distribution.
• Determine and interpret levels of statistical significance including p-values.
• Use appropriate statistical techniques to analyze and interpret applications based on data from
disciplines including business, social sciences, psychology, life science, health science, and
education.
• Group and graphically represent data.
• Identify the standard methods of obtaining data and identify advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Select the appropriate technique for testing a hypothesis and interpret the result.
• Apply concepts of sample space and probability.
• Interpret data displayed in tables and graphically.
• Interpret the output of a technology-based statistical analysis.
• Construct and interpret confidence intervals.
• Use linear regression and ANOVA analysis for estimation and inference, and interpret the associated
statistics.
• Calculate measures of central tendency and variation for a given data set.
• Find sample sizes for constructing confidence intervals and testing hypotheses.
• Distinguish among different scales of measurement and their implications.
• Calculate probabilities using normal and student’s t-distributions.
• Identify the basic concept of hypothesis testing including Type I and II errors.
Required Text and Materials
This course requires the purchase and use of an online homework system. No physical textbook is
required. A Texas Instruments TI-83+ or TI-84+ graphing calculator is required.

Online Homework System

Your online homework system is available through Canvas. All you need to do is:
1. Navigate to Canvas at https://wvm.instructure.com. Enter your username and password and select
MATH-10-32429 from your course list.
2. Select MyLab and Mastering from the left navigation menu.
3. Click on Open MyLab & Mastering to link your Pearson and Canvas accounts and register.
4. Agree to the Pearson privacy policy or authentication requests. If you’re asked for a course ID,
cancel and go back to Step 2.
5. Enter the Username and Password for your Pearson account. If you don’t have a Pearson student
account, select Create and create a Pearson account.
6. Choose an available option:
a. Enter the access code that came with your textbook if you purchased it from the bookstore.
b. Use a credit card or PayPal.
c. Get temporary access by selecting the link near the bottom of the page. Make sure you upgrade
your access before it expires to continue using the online homework system.

Important:
• You don’t need a course ID to register. If you’re asked for one, close the tab or window and go back
into Canvas and try again.
• You need to make sure that your browser allows you open new tabs. If you are getting an error
message when you click on Open MyLab & Mastering, go into the settings for your browser and
make sure you allow Canvas and Pearson site to open new tabs.

Graphing Calculator
You are required to have a TI-83+ or TI-84+ calculator for this class. If you don’t have one, you can
purchase a new one or check one out from the Books for Food program in the West Valley College
Library. To obtain a calculator using the Books for Food program, you must bring 10 cans of food (which
will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank), your ID, and a copy of your class schedule.

Course Requirements
• Homework is completed using an online homework system. See Required Text and Materials for
how to access the online homework system. Homework assignments, along with due dates are
posted on Canvas. Assignments are due BEFORE the start of class on the due date posted. Late
homework will be accepted until the day of the exam for that material. There is a 10% penalty for
turning in an assignment late. After that, late homework will not be accepted for any reason.
• Worksheets are in-class assignments that assess your understanding of the lecture material. These
assignments are completed periodically and are not announced in advance. If you are absent on the
day that a worksheet is handed out, you will be notified via email that you missed a worksheet. You
need to complete the worksheet on your own and turn it in by the beginning of the next class meeting.
Your worksheet will be considered late in this case. There is a 10% penalty for turning in a late
worksheet. Late worksheets will not be accepted after one class day.
• Exams are a combination of objective multiple choice and short answer questions. They are based
on the lecture material, homework assignments, and worksheets. Although there is some
computation, emphasis will be place on interpretation and analysis of the results of the computation
or statistical test. You will be given three exams during the semester. Exam dates are posted on
Canvas. You are allowed one 8.5 inch by 11-inch page of notes, front and back, for reference during
an exam. The notes can be handwritten or typed, but there cannot be any photos or scanned
documents in your notes. Notes must be turned in with the exam.
• A final exam is required for all students in all courses for which a letter grade is awarded. Final
examinations for full semester courses are scheduled for a two-hour period and will not be given in
advance. Your final exam for this course is comprehensive. You are also allowed one 8.5 inch by 11-
inch page of notes, front and back, for reference for the final. Your final exam is on Monday, May 18
from 9:40 – 11:40 AM.

Grading Criteria
Your overall course grade is based on quality and depth of your knowledge of statistics as exhibited in
homework, worksheets, and exams. Your course grade is determined using a weighted average of your
scores in the categories below.

Homework 15% A 90 – 100%

Worksheets 15% B 80 – 89%
Exams 50% C 70 – 79%
Final Exam 20% D 60 – 69%
F Below 60%

Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all class sessions of each class, participate in class activities and meet
requirements of the course. Instructors may drop students from the class if they fail to attend the first
class meeting or when the instructor determines that students are no longer actively participating in the
course. The definition of non-participation shall include but not be limited to excessive absences, defined
by when accumulated hours of absences exceed ten percent of the total number of hours the class meets
during the semester. Moreover, an instructor may drop from the class any student who fails to attend at
least one class session during the first three weeks of instruction.

Missing class
When you miss class, you are responsible for the material missed and assignments that are due.
Exchange contact information with a classmate in case you have to a miss class. Here’s a guideline for
what to do if cannot attend a class session:
1. Email the instructor and let your instructor know that you will be missing class.
2. Email a classmate to get a copy of the notes for the class that you miss.
3. Check Canvas for any assignments that are due and make sure you complete it.

If you miss class on a day that a worksheet was handed out, you will receive an email with the worksheet.
Complete it and submit it by the beginning of the next class meeting.

If you miss a class on a day that an exam is given, your final exam grade will be used to replace the
lowest exam grade at the end of the semester. No make-ups are given for exams.

Academic Dishonesty
Dishonesty includes but is not limited to in-class cheating, out-of-class cheating, plagiarism, knowingly
assisting another student in cheating or plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to College
staff, faculty, administrators or other officials. Following are definitions of in-class cheating, out-of-class
cheating, plagiarism, and furnishing false information. These are not all-inclusive and the list itself is not
meant to limit definition of cheating to just those mentioned.
• In-class cheating: during an examination or on any work for which the student will receive a grade or
points, unauthorized looking at or procuring information from any unauthorized sources, or any other
student’s work.
• Out-of-class cheating: unauthorized acquisition, reading or knowledge of test questions prior to the
testing date and time; changing any portion of a returned graded test or report and resubmitting as
original work to be regraded; or presenting the work of another as one’s own for a grade or points.
• Plagiarism: unauthorized use of expression of ideas from either published or unpublished work(s) as
a student’s own work for a grade in a class. This also includes the violation of copyright laws,
including copying of software packages.
• Furnishing false information: forgery, falsification, alteration or misuse of College documents,
records, or identification in class or in laboratory situations.

If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing, you will be given a 0 for that assignment or exam and referred
to the College Hearing Board for disciplinary action.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices

Use of technology, e.g. laptops, tablets, is permitted for taking notes or when it is required for the
assignment. Cell phone use is not permitted during class. Turn off your cell phones or set it in vibrate and
place it in your backpack, bag, or pocket during lectures. Photos or video may not be taken in class
without prior permission.

Disability Services
West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. The
Disability and Educational Support Program (DESP) coordinates accommodations and services for all
students who are eligible. If you have a disability for which you wish to request accommodations and
have not already done so, please contact DESP as soon as possible. Their office is located in the LS
building; their phone number is (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY).

Information about their services can be found at www.westvalley.edu/desp. You may also contact me
privately in regard to your needs in this course.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

In the case of a campus emergency, our evacuation procedure is to assemble in parking Lot 2, just
outside the SM building. Take all belongings (as practical) and evacuate together. If you are separated
from the class, you must meet us in Lot 2 for roll call. Students under the age of 18 must stay with the
instructor at all times. No one should leave campus or the assembly area unless instructed to do so by
the instructor or another official (police, fire, etc.); this will ensure that everyone is accounted for in case of
an emergency.