Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives The student is expected to understand and apply a range of techniques for reaching conclusions in situations in which uncertainty plays a significant role and for making decisions in a variety of problems arising from the need to manage resources effectively.
Synopsis Section A - The nature of statistics: basic concepts of experimental design; collecting and organising data; use of the statistical package MINITAB; review of probability models and applications such as statistical quality control; sampling (random sampling, implications of the central limit theorem); control charts for process mean and process variability; estimation from random samples, point and interval estimation of means and differences between means; regression models (introduction to applications of simple linear regression). Section B - Operations research and areas of its potential application in engineering: linear programming (problem formulation, solution through graphical procedure and simplex method, and use of available LP packages); decision making under risk (the value and quality of information); network models including shortest-route, maximum-flow, assignment and transportation problems, analysis of inventory control models; introduction to simulation process and simple applications.
Assessment Three assignments: 40% + Two 2-hour examinations: 60%