MATH 170E: Introduction to Probability and Statistics 1: Probability

Fall 2026

Contents

I. Information II. Description III. Grading IV. Problem Sets V. Exams VI. Recitations Notes

I Information

Instructor

Tyler Arant

Lecture Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays • 9:00 am–9:50 am • Dodd Hall 175 ↗︎

Office hours Monday • 11:00 am–12:00 pm • Mathematical Sciences 6322 ↗︎

Office hours Wednesdays • 3:30 pm–4:30 pm • Mathematical Sciences 6322 ↗︎

Teaching Assistant

Allen Lin

Discussion Tuesdays and Thursdays • 9:00 am–9:50 am • La Kretz Hall 120 ↗︎

Office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays • 3:00 pm–4:00 pm • Mathematical Sciences 2905 ↗︎

Course links

Pre-class survey ↗︎ Bruinlearn ↗︎ Gradescope ↗︎

II Description

Introduction to probability theory with emphasis on topics relevant to applications. Topics include discrete (binomial, Poisson, etc.) and continuous (exponential, gamma, chi-square, normal) distributions, bivariate distributions, distributions of functions of random variables (including moment generating functions and central limit theorem).

Textbook: Robert Hogg, Elliot Tanis, and Dale Zimmerman, Probability and Statistical Inference, 10th edition.

III Grading

Your course grade is determined by the higher of the grades calculated under the two grading schemes below.

Scheme 1

Problem Sets * 15%

Problem Set 1 2.5%

Problem Set 2 2.5%

Problem Set 3 2.5%

Problem Set 4 2.5%

Problem Set 5 2.5%

Problem Set 6 2.5%

Problem Set 7 2.5%

Midterm Exams 40%

Midterm I 20%

Midterm II 20%

Final Exam 45%

Total 100%

* Lowest problem set grade dropped

Scheme 2

Problem Sets * 15%

Problem Set 1 2.5%

Problem Set 2 2.5%

Problem Set 3 2.5%

Problem Set 4 2.5%

Problem Set 5 2.5%

Problem Set 6 2.5%

Problem Set 7 2.5%

Midterm Exams ** 25%

Midterm I 25%

Midterm II 25%

Final Exam 60%

Total 100%

* Lowest problem set grade dropped
** Lowest midterm grade dropped

IV Problem Sets

Problem Set 1 Due 5 Oct 2026

Released 28 Sep 2026

Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎

Problem Set 2 Due 12 Oct 2026

Released 6 Oct 2026

Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎

V Exams

Midterm I 26 Oct 2026

Time 9:00 am–9:50 am

Location Dodd Hall 175 ↗︎

Midterm II 23 Nov 2026

Time 9:00 am–9:50 am

Location Dodd Hall 175 ↗︎

Final Exam 10 Dec 2026

Time 6:30 pm–9:30 pm

Location To be determined

VI Recitation/Discussion Notes

Recitation 0 Week of 21 Sep

Thu 24 Sep

Survey 0 ↗︎ Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎

Recitation 1 Week of 28 Sep

Tue 29 Sep

Thu 1 Oct

Survey 1 ↗︎ Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎

Recitation 2 Week of 5 Oct

Tue 6 Oct

Thu 8 Oct

Survey 2 ↗︎ Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎

Recitation 3 Week of 12 Oct

Tue 13 Oct

Thu 15 Oct

Survey 3 ↗︎ Handout ↗︎ Solutions ↗︎