Undergraduate - UnitMTH3241 - Random processes in the sciences and engineering

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 0 (NATIONAL PRIORITY), 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Offered	Clayton First semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Kais Hamza

Synopsis

This unit introduces the methods of stochastic processes and statistics used in the analysis of biological data, physics, economics and engineering. At the completion of the unit students will understand the application of classical techniques, such as Poisson processes, Markov chains, hidden Markov chains, random walks, martingale theory, birth and death processes, and branching processes in the analysis of DNA sequences, population genetics, dynamics of populations, telecommunications and economic analysis.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to understand the idea of random variables varying with time; analyse Markov chains at the elementary level, in discrete and continuous time; study various processes such as Poisson process, birth process, birth and death process, branching processes, random walks, martingales; apply the above probability processes to such practical situations as queues, epidemics, servicing machines, networks, financial markets, insurance risk, etc.

Assessment

Final exam: 70%
Assignments: 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Kais Hamza

Contact hours

Three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour support class per week

Prerequisites

One of MTH2010, MTH2015, MTH2032, MTH2222, or ETC2520. One of MTH2222 or ETC2520 is highly recommended.