FYSM 150 - Chance and Current Events

Institution:

Trinity College

Subject:

Description:

"Chance and Current Events" is a case study course that introduces probability and statistics in the context of current news stories. Using current events, guest lecture and personal experiences, we will consider how statistics and statistical thinking get used (and abused) in a variety of activities, including polling, public health, marketing, advertising, lotteries. By the end of the course, you will be able to analyze critically the statistics you come across in your day-to-day life. Throughout the course, you will produce and analyze statistical information of your own. You will also evaluate other students' analyses. Some examples of the types of questions that will be addressed are: Why do newspapers report a "margin of error'' for poll results, and what does it mean How can graphs and charts provide information (or misinformation) What makes a good graph How do new cancer drugs get tested, and why doesn't the same protocol work for AIDS How do studies on mice get extrapolated to humans, and do the results make any sense What is quality control, and why is it currently so fashionable in North American industry Paula Russo is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and teaches a wide range of courses from introductory statistics to mathematical analysis and differential equations. She directed the College's Interdisciplinary Science Program for five years, where she developed an interest in the applications of mathematics to other fields, particularly biology and environmental scienc 1.00 units, Seminar

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.Trincoll.edu

Phone Number:

(860) 297-2000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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