MAT1060

Statistical methods

Coordinators: Dr Aidan Sudbury (Clayton campus), Associate Professor Philip Rayment (Gippsland campus and distance education mode)

6 points
* Three 1-hour lectures and one 1-hour tutorial per week
* First/second semester: Clayton
* Second semester: Gippsland/Distance
* Prerequisites: At levels 3 and 4, VCE Mathematical Methods
* Prohibitions: GAS1631, MAT1372, MAT1711, MAT1722, MAT1841

Objectives On the completion of this subject students will be able to understand how data is collected and stored; show how to present data graphically; understand the meaning of population statistics such as mean, variance and median; distinguish between a population parameter and a sample statistic; determine confidence intervals for population statistics; understand the importance of a statistical test; determine which statistical test is appropriate; enter data into Minitab; analyse data in Minitab; know how to take a random sample; determine when data fits a statistical hypothesis.

Synopsis Descriptive statistics, scatter plots, correlation, line of best fit. Elementary probability theory. Confidence intervals and hypothesis tests using normal, t and binomial distributions. Use of Minitab.

Assessment Examination (3 hours): 70%
* Assignments/tutorials and tests: 30%

Prescribed texts

Moore D S and McCabe G P Introduction to the practice of statistics 2nd edn, Freeman, 1993