ECEN 3810 - Introduction to Probability

Fall 2008, 3 credit hours, 2:00-2:50 MWF, ECCR 150

Prof. Youjian Liu
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Colorado at Boulder

Office: ECOT 337
youjian.liu@colorado.edu,
http://ece-www.colorado.edu/~liue

Announcement

• Office hours: Monday: 11-12pm, 4:30-5:30pm, Wednesday: 4:30-5:30pm
• 9/5: In-class exam, no preparation is needed. I will be in a NSF meeting.
• Midterm I is on Monday 9/29.
  

Blog: How to Learn?

1. A theory is simple if you have invented it. In this class, you will invent the probability theory by summarizing the general principles from examples. So, it is not a matter of learning. It is a matter of reinventing.
2. Read every line of the textbook after the class. For the examples, try it yourself before reading the solutions.
3. The first thing to solve a problem is to define the appropriate sample space.
4. I really wanted to solve this in a way where I don't have to do a special method for each problem.  As in, solve problems in a general way is easier to remember than a special technique for each individual problem.  - David Hover, a student in 3810.
5. No matter how simple the problem is, always show formula used to calculate the result. Only the final number will not earn you points in exams. If the formula is right, even if the final numerical result is not correct, you will obtain majority of the points in an exam. When you build a cell phone, you build a program using formula to calculate the related probabilities. So, formula is more important than the final numbers. The simple homework is for you to practice the formula, not the numbers.
6.  (09/24/08) You might be wondering why we spend so much time on Chapter 1.1-1.6? The answer is that they are the foundation of the Probability Theory. I want to make sure that the concepts are yours, i.e., reinvented by yourself, so that you really feel comfortable using them. The rest of the book is just bells and whistles added to these basic concepts. We will move faster from now on.
7. (09/24/08) When I ask students to solve problems on the blackboard, smart learners pay great attention to their mistakes. I myself learn more from mistakes. Even if you have the right answers here, seeing others' mistakes prevents you from making similar mistakes elsewhere. Special thanks to those who solve problems on blackboard for helping your classmates learn better. Of course, as you have seen, you will be rewarded with personal tutoring.
8. (11/12/08) After reading each section, try to do the quizzes and compare your solution to the solution here.
   

Homework Assignments

HW#1: 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.3.2, 1.3.5, 1.4.1, 1.4.2.

HW#2: 1.4.4, 1.4.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3, 1.5.4, 1.5.5, 1.5.6, due on Friday 9/19.

HW#3: 1.6.1 1.6.2 1.6.3 1.6.4 1.6.5 1.6.6, 1.6.7, due on Wednesday 9/24.

HW#4: 1.7.3, 1.7.4, 1.7.6, due on Wednesday, Oct. 1st.

HW#5:1.8.1, 1.9.1, 1.9.2, 1.9.3, 1.9.4, 1.10.1, 1.10.2, 1.10.3, due on Wednesday, Oct. 8th.

HW#6: 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.6, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.4, due on Wednesday, Oct. 15th.

HW#7: 2.3.3, 2.3.7, 2.5.2, 2.5.7, 2.5.9, 2.5.11, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.8.5, 2.8.7, due on Wednesday 22nd.

HW#8: 2.7.2, 2.7.3, 2.7.4, 2.8.8, 2.9.1, 2.9.2, 2.9.4, 2.9.6, 2.9.8, due on Wednesday Oct. 29th.

HW#9: 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.3.2, 3.3.4, 3.4.1, 3.4.9, 3.5.3, 3.5.5, and 3.5.6, due on Wednesday Nov. 5th.

HW#10: 3.6.2, 3.6.3, 3.6.6, 3.6.8, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.5, 3.7.7, 3.8.1, 3.8.2, 3.8.4, 3.8.5, due on Wednesday, Nov. 12th.

HW#11: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.6, 4.3.1, 4.3.4, 4.4.1, 4.5.1, 4.5.3, due on Monday, Dec. 1st.

HW#12: 4.6.1, 4.6.8, 4.7.4, 4.7.8, 4.8.1, 4.8.3, 4.9.4, 4.9.6, 4.9.12, 4.10.5, 4.10.7, 4.11.2, and 4.11.3, Due on Monday  Dec. 8th.

HW#13: 5.5.3, 5.5.4, 6.6.2, and 7.1.2, Due on Friday Dec. 12th.