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
1
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
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
