MATH1015 Biostatistics

General Information

MATH1015 is a Junior (or first-year) unit forming part of the fundamental Mathematics stream.

Note that students wishing to study junior level statistics may choose MATH1015 or the second semester unit MATH1005, which has a similar syllabus.

• Credit point value: 3CP.
• Classes per week: Two lectures and one tutorial.
• Lecturer(s) in 2012: Jennifer Chan and Shelton Peiris.
• Email contact address: MATH1015@maths.usyd.edu.au.
  Students: Please include your name and SID when emailing us.

Information sheet for MATH1015

All students should read the information sheet. The information includes (for example) details of the assessment procedure, including dates of assessment tasks.

Answers to frequently asked questions

See the main junior mathematics page for information relating to all junior mathematics units, and see in particular the Junior Maths FAQ page.

Duty Tutors

Students needing help with understanding the content of units of study MATH1011, MATH1015, MATH1001, MATH1002 and MATH2061 are encouraged to seek help from their lecturers, or from our duty tutors. Consultation times for lecturers are given on the respective unit of study information sheet, a click away from the unit of study webpage.

Duty tutors are available in Carslaw 830 (level 8, Carslaw Building) on Mondays and Thursdays between 1pm and 2pm, from Week 3 to Week 13 (excluding the Easter Teaching Break 06-13 April), commencing 1 pm on Monday 19 March 2012.

The Duty Tutors are all Teaching Fellows in the School and especially experienced at assisting and advising students. They are

• Andrew Crisp (Mondays), targetting MATH1011, MATH1015, MATH1001, MATH1002, MATH2061
• Nicholas Wilson (Mondays), targetting MATH1011, MATH1001, MATH1002, MATH2061
• John Mitry (Thursdays), targetting MATH1011, MATH1001, MATH1002
• Emi Tanaka (Thursdays), targetting MATH1011, MATH1015, MATH1001, MATH1002, MATH2061

Online Resources

Calculator Policy

• The University of Sydney will no longer be supplying calculators for exams. Students will be able to use their own calculators, so long as they are on an approved list.
• For more information click here.
• Here is an example of how to use one of the approved calculators: Casio fx85MS Information/Basic Instructions

General Information

• The Student Office is Carslaw room 520. Any administrative enquiries should be made there.
• Checking the websites regularly (both the Junior Mathematics page, and the unit pages) is very important.
• Students should note the dates of quizzes and assignments and attend the quizzes on their tutorial groups. Not knowling that a quiz is on is not an acceptable reason for missing it.
• There is an FAQ webpage, accessible from the Junior Mathematics page, which should be checked before making email enquiries.
• The textbook as listed in the information sheet for this unit is available from the bookstore now.
• Beginning in week 3, students will be able to seek help with the material from "duty tutors" on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2pm, in Carslaw room 830. (This is in addition to lecturers' consultations.)
• On any day of tutorial which is a public holiday, students can attend any other tutorials on voluntary base or simply attempt the tutorial questions by themselves. As attending a tutorial in this case is optional, the tutors will not mark these attendances.

R Software

• Login and R Information Sheet
• Official Webpage
• Download Link

Data Sets

• Mice
• Hospital
• Germination
• Students' weights
• Iron
• Iron retained
• Lead
• Milk yields
• Marks
• Lead-IQ

Formulae Sheet

• Formulae sheet

Summary

• Summary

Statistical Tables

• All tables
• All the necessary tables will be provided in the quizzes and exam.

Assessment

• Assignment: Due on Thursday 05 April (5%)
• Assignment Cover sheet
• Solutions/Marking Scheme to Assignment
• Writing and Submission Instructions: Your assignment may be written or typed, and is due 4 pm Thursday 5 April. It should be lodged in the locked collection boxes on the verandah of Carslaw Level 3. These boxes are at the end of the verandah closest to Eastern Avenue (not the locked collection boxes near the pyramids on Carslaw Level 3, nor the open pigeonholes.) Your assignment should be stapled inside a manila folder, on the front of which you should write the initial of your family name as a LARGE letter. A cover sheet must be signed and attached.
• Quiz 1: Week 8 (beginning on 30 April) in your tutorial class and worth 15% towards your final mark. This quiz consists of 15 multiple choice (MC) questions each with five possible choices and only one of them is correct. Mark your correct choice in pen. This is a closed book test but you can access the formulae sheet, statistical tables, basic R commands and other information from the course website. There will be some questions related to the use of the statistical package R. Two practice quizzes given below provide a good revision for QUIZ1. However, note that these practice quizzes do not reflect or indicate the true nature of the real quiz.
• Required knowledge: Week 1 to Week 7.1 (both inclusive)
• Practice Quiz 1
• A slightly different practice quiz is available on P261 of the book MATH1015 (2011) by Rosner, Peiris, Chan and Marchev
• Answers to practice quizzes 1
• Answers for practice Quiz 1 from the webpage Practice Quiz 1 : 1. d, 2. b, 3. b, 4. c, 5. e, 6. a, 7. d, 8. e, 9. c, 10. c, 11. b, 12. d , 13. a, 14. d, 15. e
• Answers for practice Quiz 1 from the textbook: 1. d, 2. b, 3. c, 4. e, 5. c, 6. d, 7. e, 8. a, 9. d, 10. b, 11. a, 12. b, 13. d, 14. c, 15. a
• Quiz 2: week 11 (beginning on 21 May) in your tutorial class and worth 15% towards your final mark. This quiz consists of 15 multiple choice (MC) questions each with five possible choices and only one of them is correct. Mark your correct choice in pen. This is a closed book test. However, you can access the School's Computer Network during the quiz to get formulae sheet, statistical tables, basic R commands and other information from the course website. There will be some questions related to use of the statistical package R. You are NOT allowed to USE your own LAPTOP during this quiz, unless there are valid reasons through medical and/or disability services.
• Required knowledge: Week 1 to Week 10 (both inclusive). However, more weights will be given to the material from week 7 to week10. A practical knowledge of R is required to answer some questions.
• Two practice quizzes given below provide a good revision for QUIZ2. Solution is also provided in the first practice quiz. However, note that these practice quizzes indicate the format of 15 MC questions but do not reflect the true nature of the real quiz.
• Practice Quiz 2 with solution
• A slightly different practice quiz is available on P264 of the book MATH1015 (2011) by Rosner, Peiris, Chan and Marchev. The solution is here.
• Answers to practice quizzes 2
• Answers for practice Quiz 2 from the webpage: 1. a, 2. b, 3. b, 4. a, 5. c, 6. d, 7. c, 8. e, 9. a, 10. d, 11. b, 12. e, 13. e, 14. b, 15. d
• Answers for practice Quiz 2 from the textbook: 1. c, 2. d, 3. NA 4. b, 5. b, 6. d, 7. e, 8. a, 9. e, 10. c, 11. d, 12. c, 13. a, 14. d, 15. d

Incomplete Summary Lecture Notes

• Completed notes are NOT AVAILABLE from this website. If you cannot complete these notes (eg. miss or late for a lecture) during the lecture time, ask your friends or your lecturer (A/Prof. Peiris or Dr Chan) immediately (in the same week).
• Students can see their lecturers at the advertised consultation times (or by appointment) for any help relating to MATH1015 including completing any missing notes.
• Students are advised to download, print and bring to class the lecture notes for current week.
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 2 & 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7 (with sol. to P.18 & 21)
• Week 8 (with sol. to P.8 & 9)
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11

Weekly Tutorials/Solutions

• Tutorial starts at week 2. Students should read the login information, login computers in any computer lab in level 6 and 7, Carslaw building during their free time in week 1 and attempt the problems for week 1. Please read Login and R information under R Software.
• Students must print out the current week’s tutorial sheets from the web, and take them to their tutorials.
• Students should attempt the tutorial questions before the tutorials and discuss any problems with their tutors during the tutorials.
• If student want to change their tutorial times, they can do so online through MyUni or during week 1 in Carslaw 202.
• Next fri (April 6) is a public holiday. Student attending tutorial on this day should attend any tutorial on next wed or thur. Those students who cannot attend any tutorial on next wed or thur should attempt the problems and read the solution by themselves.
• Tutorial 1 Solution
• Tutorial 2 Solution
• Tutorial 3 Solution
• Tutorial 4 Solution
• Tutorial 5 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 6 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 7 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 8 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 9 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 10 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 11 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 12 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions
• Tutorial 13 - Short numerical answers - Full Solutions

NOTE: Twelve self-test web quizzes are given below. However, you will NOT be able to handle the questions 4 to 10 of QUIZ3 as these questions are based on the theory of correlation and regression. This topic will be covered in weeks 12 and 13 (see week-by-week course outline).

Useful Links

• Self-test web quizzes:
  Test your understanding of the topics by trying the quizzes for MATH1015 regularly as the semester progresses.
• Handbook:
  Every student should have a copy of the Junior Mathematics and Statistics Handbook.
• Examination Timetable:
  For general information on examinations, including the end of semester examination timetable, see the University's Examination Information web site.
• Past Exam Papers:
  Fisher Library's previous years' exam papers page.
• The Faculty Handbook entry:
  The Faculty Handbook entry for MATH1015 from the central units of study database.

Timetable

Last revised 30/03/12

All rooms are in the Carslaw building unless otherwise indicated.