6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
School of Mathematical Sciences
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
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;
- Understand key processes in probability, including the Poisson process, birth process, birth and death process, branching processes, random walks, martingales;
- Apply the probability processes to practical situations, including queues, epidemics, servicing machines, networks, financial markets and insurance risk.
Assessment
End of semester examination (3 hours): 60% (Hurdle)
Continuous assessment: 40% (Hurdle)
Hurdle requirement: To pass this unit a student must achieve at least 50% overall and at least 40% for both the end-of-semester examination and continuous assessment components.
Workload requirements
Three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour applied class per week
See also Unit timetable information