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                  Information about the first mid-term exam
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The first midterm examination is on Thursday, February 5, 1998.  Here
are some guidelines for it.  Sample questions and answers are posted
on the internet.

WHAT TO STUDY:
You are responsible only for the topics covered in class.  In 
descriptive statistics, you should be able to define all the concepts 
discussed in class and use a calculator to make simple calculations.
In the probability theory part of the course, set theory operations 
using Venn diagrams, definitions of probability, conditional 
probability, independence, Bayes theorem, and deriving expected values 
are all fair game.  In your text these are in Sections 1.1 through 1.6, 
2.1, and 2.2.  Study only the topics covered in class and the examples in
the book that correspond to the topics.


WHAT TO BRING:
1) Pen(s) to write.  If you use a pencil, you forfeit the right to
complain about the grading, unless you pick up the exam from the TA's
office and take care of grading complaints before leaving his/her office. 
You need not bring paper or blue book because you will be writing the
answers on the paper itself.
2) A 4 inch by 6 inch index card or paper on which you should copy down
all formulas and any other information you think you would want to
reference.  Note that the index card should be handwritten and not
photo copied from the book.  The idea is that, in the process of
deciding what to copy and actually copying, you would have learned the
material and wouldn't need to look at the card except for messy
formulas.
3) A simple basic calculator.  If you bring a solar calculator, be sure 
to sit directly a light.

TIME LIMITS:
You are not allowed to turn the cover page to look at the exam until
everyone has received the papers and I signal that you may start
writing.  Also, you must stop writing when asked to.  You will,
however, be given a two-minute warning so that you can wrap things up. 
TEN POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR EACH MINUTE OF EXTRA TIME IT TAKES YOU
TO STOP WRITING.

If you need help with difficult material, feel free to ask for help. 
Remember what I said, "One person can lead a horse to the water, but 20
cannot make him drink." There is no sense in going to the exam feeling
frustrated about materials you haven't understood.  In this course you
will not be able to study the day before an exam and expect to do well. 
You should be in constant touch with the material, the messages, and
all the assignments posted on the computer.  We are here to help as
much as possible, but you should do your part.  Doing the homeworks
will be of great help.  Don't expect any sympathy from me if you don't
turn in homeworks.
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