UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

(All rights reserved)

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS & ACTUARIAL SCIENCE

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL & MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
1ST SEMESTER, 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Code and Title: STAT 221: INTRODUCTORY PROBABILITY I

Credits: Three (3)
Course Lecturers Office E-mails TAs: Office Hours Lecture Days and
Locations Venue
Dr. Anani Lotsi Room 209 alotsi@ug.edu.gh Godfred Thursdays Tuesday 8: 30am-
Arhin/ Joshua (10:30 – 16:30 9:20am/ STAT 004
Tetteh Korley GMT) Friday: 9:30am-
11:20am/ STAT 004

Dr. Edward Room 204 eoacheampong@ug.edu.gh Mr Bless Mondays Monday 1: 30pm-

Acheampong Forfoe 3:20pm/ STAT 202
(08:30 – 12:30
GMT) Thursday: 1:30pm-
2:20pm/ STAT 002
Dr. Enoch Sakyi Room 003 esyeboah@ug.edu.gh Prosper Thursdays Thursday 2: 30pm-
- Yeboah Azameti 3:20pm/STAT 002
(8:30 - 12:30
GMT) Friday: 1:30pm-
3:20pm/ STAT 002
*Lecture Period(s): See the department’s Time Table for the periods
Pre-requisites: STAT 112, MATH 121 & MATH 122
Introduction/Subject or Course Overview:
Probability is a measure of the chance that some outcome will occur. It is fundamental to the study of
random phenomena or events. The concept of probability is fundamental in statistical analysis. Theory of
probability underpins most of the methods used in statistics. In this course, we look at the concepts of
univariate probability distributions, univariate moment generating functions, their properties and
applications. We will conclude by introducing Bivariate discrete distributions and some probability
modelling based on discrete distributions.

Course Objectives/Goals:
The course offers a comprehensive understanding and application of probability distribution and also
provides a systematic development of the concepts and methods of introductory probability theory. This
course provides students with skills in the understanding of the concepts of univariate and bivariate
probability distributions and their applications to real-life problems.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
 Understand and identify some familiar discrete and continuous probability distributions.
 Calculate probabilities of discrete and continuous random variables using their probability
distributions.
 Compute the moment generation functions of both discrete and continuous random variables.
 Calculate probabilities using standard normal probability table.
 Construct discrete bivariate probability model.

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Course Delivery:
Mode of course delivery will include lectures: videos, lecture notes, power point slides; tutorials and
including presentations. There will be thirteen weeks of lectures for 3 hours a week.

Plagiarism policy
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable in the University of Ghana and shall be treated as a serious offence.
Appropriate sanctions, as stipulated in the Plagiarism Policy of the University of Ghana Undergraduate Handbook,
will be applied when students are found to have violated the Plagiarism policy.

Assessment and Grading (as applicable)

Popup Quizzes 5%
Exercises 10 %
Mid-Semester Test/Interim Assessment 15 %
Final Exam 70 %

Grading Scale:
Refer to the Undergraduate Handbook

Reading List /Required Text

Gane Samb LO (2017). A Course on Elementary Probability Theory. Statistics and Probability Society
(SPAS) Book Series. Saint-Louis, Calgary, Alberta.
Ross, S. M. (1998). A first course in Probability. 5th Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey
Ross, S. M. (2009). Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists.4th Edition.
Elsevier
Chung, K. L. (2012). Elementary Probability Theory with Stochastic Processes. Springer Science &
Business Media.
Mosteller, F., Rourke, R. E., & Thomas, G. B. (1961). Probability with Statistical Applications, Addison
Wesley.
Rizzo, M.L. (2007). Statistical Computing with R.
Schinazi, R. B. (2011). Probability with Statistical Applications. Springer Science & Business Media.
Sheldon, R. (2002). A First Course in Probability. Pearson Education India.

Other Information
• Disclaimer: This Course Outline may be subjected to changes as when necessary.
• Any other information:
It is expected of every student to be punctual (class attendance will be graded); Assignments are
to be submitted by close of day (18:00 GMT) on or before the deadline which will be indicated on
the assignment sheet. Students are required to comport themselves during lecture hours.
Use of mobile phones during lecture hours is strictly prohibited.
Assignment sheets and other material will be upload on Sakai or Class WhatsApp platforms or
place at the department’s photocopying centres.

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Week Lecture Topics Venue(s) Assessment

1 1. Review of Probability Distributions and some of their Basic STAT 002,

Properties. STAT 202,
STAT 004
1.1 Univariate Probability Distributions
1.2 Bernoulli Distribution
1.3 Binomial Distribution
1.4 Geometric Distribution
1.5 Poisson Distribution
2 2. Hypergeometric Distribution “ Exercise 1
2.1 Definition of hypergeometric random variable
2.2 Probability mass function and proof of legitimacy
2.3 Moments and their Proofs
2.4 Computation of probabilities and some applictions

3 2.5 The Binomial approximation to the Hypergeometric “

4 3. Negative Binomial Distribution “ Exercise 2

3.1 Definition of Negative Binomial random variable
3.2 Probability mass function and Legitimacy
3.3 Moments
3.4 Calculation of probabilities and its applications
3.5 Some real life examples and applications
5 4. Uniform Distribution (Continuous random variable) “ Exercise 3
4.1 Definition and its random variable
4.2 Probability density function and Legitimacy
4.3 Moments and their Proofs
4.4 Cumulative distribution function and computation of probabilities
4.5 Some real life examples and applications
5. Exponential Distibution Interim
6 5.1 Definition and the probability density function “ Assessment
5.2 Proof of Legitimacy condition and Cumulative distribution function
5.3 Moments and their Proofs
5.4 Truncated Exponential Distribution
5.5 Lack of Memory Property
5.4 Computations of probabilities and some applications
7 6. Gamma Distribution “ Exercise 4
6.1 Definition and the probability density function
6.2 Proof of Legitimacy condition and Cumulative distribution function
6.3 Moments and their Proofs
6.4 Properties of Gamma distribution
6.5 Some Applications
8 7. Normal or Gaussian Distribution “ Exercise 5
7.1 Definition and the probability density function
7.2 Proof of Legitimacy condition
7.3 Standard Normal distribution
7.4 Cumulative Distribution function and Tabulation using standard
normal table
7.5 Calculation of probabilities and some applications

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9 8. Univariate Moment Generating Functions “ Exercise 6
8.1 Introduction and Definition of MGFs
8.2 Properties of MGFs
8.3 Computations of MGFs of the Familiar discrete and Continuous
distributions
10 9. Introduction to Bivriate Discrete Distributions “ Exercise 7
9.1 Definition of a Bivariate random variable
9.2 Joint and Marginal distribution of Bivariate random variable
9.3 Conditional distribution
9.4 Some Probability Modelling based on discrete distributions
11 Revision “
12 Examination “
13 Examination “

Revised: January 2023

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