In the table below, an underlined item has links to the Web pages for that category. If you have access to a Web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer, for example) from home, it is wise to create bookmarks for this site as well as the other link pages. There are links to old homeworks and exams the last time I taught this course several years ago. For details click here and choose the bullentins option.
| CLASS MEETINGS | MWF 10-10:50pm, Peterson Hall 108
Class Web page --- http://econ.ucsd.edu/~rramanat/ec120a/spring03. | ||||||||||||
| OFFICE AND HOURS | My office is Room 109, ECON building, Marshall College (Phone 534-8904). My office hours will be 9-9:50am and 1 to 2pm on MWF (I have a class from 12-1). I AM NOT AVAILABLE ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. Variations from the above will be posted on the computer bulletin. The TAs' office hours will be posted on their doors and on the computer bulletin. | ||||||||||||
| TEXTS |
DATA ANALYSIS WITH MICROSOFT EXCEL by Kenneth N. Berk and Patrick Carey,
Second Edition, 2003. The second edition will not be available before
April 17, 2003.
PROFESSOR RAMANATHAN'S HANDOUT #1, from Soft Reserves. PROFESSOR RAMANATHAN'S HANDOUT #2, from Soft Reserves. |
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| COURSE CONTENT |
This course primarily deals with the theories of probability and
mathematical statistics needed for the remaining two courses in this
sequence. Numerical applications will use the Microsoft Excel program and
will be predominantly through Econ 100 computer lab sessions.
During the first week of class it is extremely important that you get
your computer account for the class, login, and familiarize yourself with
the computers in Econ 100 lab. Be sure to attend the weekly
lab sessions regularly. That is where you will really learn the computer
operations. I will spend very little class time on the mechanics of
computer commands. You are expected to learn them on your own, with the
help of the TAs. Also, we will be using simple integrations. So brush up
on integrals from your Calculus course.
Because the book by Berk and Carey will not be available till the end of April, we will start with the two handouts listed above. | ||||||||||||
| ASSIGNMENTS | There will be two assignments, each of which will carry a weight of 10% towards the final grade. The assignments will involve both theoretical and empirical work. Joint work and free discussion are strongly encouraged. If you work as a team (no more than three people per team), submit a single set of answers and identify the team members. Each member will get the same grade assigned to the answers. If your name does not appear on any assignment turned in, you cannot add it later. If your name appears on two papers, the LOWER grade will be chosen. LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. | ||||||||||||
| EXAMS | There will be two mid-term exams, one on April 30, Wednesday of the fifth week (20% weight), and the second on May 21, Wednesday of the eighth week (30% weight). The final exam will have a 30% weight. The exams will be closed book, but you can bring a SINGLE 4" by 6" index card on which you may copy down (on both sides) formulas, etc. It must be HAND-WRITTEN; photo reducing and pasting is not permitted. Bring a calculator (just a simple one will do, no need for scientific or business calculator). If you bring a solar calculator, be sure to sit directly under a light. All grading problems must be rectified within a week from the time an exam or assignment is returned. No regrading of exams will be allowed if they were written in pencil. If you write in pencil, however, you can pick up the exam from the T.A. in his/her office, check the grading immediately, and take care of complaints before leaving the office.; | ||||||||||||
| MAKE-UP EXAMS | I will generally not give incompletes or make-up exams, especially if you have exam conflicts on finals. If for some reason a make-up exam is given, 10% of the score will be deducted as penalty. There is no penalty for medical absence, but a doctor's certificate is required. I ought to warn you that my make-up exams are usually much harder. | ||||||||||||
| COURSE GRADE | The course grade will be assigned as follows. First, a weighted
average of numerical scores will be obtained. If the mean class score
is below 67.5 percent (C+ average), points will be added to all scores
to bring the
mean score to 67.5 percent. Then letter grades will be assigned using
the following percentage scale.
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| BULLETINS | We will be using email and bulletin board
systems extensively for communication purposes. If there is an
important message to be read, I will alert you in class. You should
then sign up after class and see if you have mail or bulletins.
FAILING TO DO THAT MAY BE DISASTROUS BECAUSE YOU WILL MISS IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENTS. My email address is ramu@econ.ucsd.edu or
rramanathan@ucsd.edu. |