Discrete Mathematics
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
1255 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36604
Learning Modules/Discrete Mathematics/C.Akkoc/1996
MODULE No.1
ESTIMATING the DISTANCE the TEACHER "WALKS" IN ONE TERM in the CLASSROOM
The problem is to estime the total DISTANCE
(measured in miles) Dr.Akkoc WALKS in the
classroom for one course during one term at ASMS.
Please follow the guidelines given here to solve this problem.
-
There are 42 contact periods in one term. Three periods are
spent on tests and the rest are lectures. You first need to
figure out a scheme for getting/measuring random samples per
period for the random variable, the distance the teacher walks.
When you have created such a sampling procedure please discuss
your plan with Dr.Akkoc before implementation. Your proposed
scheme should have built in measures to insure randomness of the
samples you collect. Sample size should be of top concern since
it will influence your confidence intervals. The larger the
sample, the higher the confidence level, and the smaller the
confidence interval.
-
Implement your sampling scheme to collect "raw" data. Record
your data in tabulated form with dates attached.
-
Using the raw data from your samples calculate the SAMPLE
MEAN and the SAMPLE STANDARD DEVIATION for each sample. Then
assuming a Gaussian distribution for the sample means, and making
use of the Central Limit Theorem construct a 95% confidence
interval for the total distance walked by the teacher during one
term. Draw a graph (histogram) for the said distribution with the
95% confidence interval marked on the graph.
-
On a blank sheet of paper show key steps in your calculations
together with your results. Attach graph(s) and raw data sheets to
your report.