This half-semester course focuses on the foundations of discrete and continuous
probability, and uses calculus to study these ideas.
Math 116 is targeted primarily at two audiences. First, it is appropriate for students who
enter Haverford with a substantial background in calculus, but not enough to place
directly into multivariable calculus Math 121 (e.g., a strong
performance in an AB calculus course in high school). Students in this category may
pair Math 116 with Math 115, but Math 115
is not a prerequisite for Math 116. The most important
prerequisite is familiarity with integrals and a desire to learn how calculus may be
applied to probability and statistics. Second, Math 116 may be taken as a follow-up to the
half-semester integral calculus course Math 114. Math 116 is a
particularly good follow-up to Math 114 for students interested
in pursuing further courses in probability or statistics, or for strengthening data
analysis skills in laboratory courses, whereas Math 115 may
appeal to those interested in more conceptual material, or in going significantly further
in mathematics.
Prerequisites: Math 114 or advanced placement
Who should take this course?
Students who fall into one of the two groups described above
Students with applied interests who have a good background in limits, derivatives, and integrals, but did not place
into Math 121
Topics covered:
Descriptive statistics
Sample spaces and events
Axioms of probability
Elementary combinatorics
Conditional probability
Random variables
Discrete and continuous distributions and density functions
Expected value and variance
The normal curve and central limit theorem
Introduction to sampling and hypothesis testing
For detailed information about Math 116 this year, please consult the list of Fall Courses and Spring Courses linked to the Mathematics and Statistics Home Page.