Originally posted by coroneosrules
We have all had to endure negative marking in one form or another and if in an exam you write something that demonstrates no understanding then you will not do well in any course. This is in no way unique to ACST211.
I agree that even elementary statistics will prove difficult if you don't know much statistics, but the question then is why don't you know much statistics?
Applications of double integrals (I assume you mean to probability problems regarding bivariate random variables) are treated in all probability/mathematical statistics courses and are not especially challenging to quantitatively inclined students. Indeed many courses generalise this to multiple integrals. Ditto for Markov Chains and expected value problems.
I guess my point is that there is nothing to be gained by scaring new students into thinking that a particular course or degree is very difficult when it is no harder than many other courses that are offered throughout the country.
We don't know much statistics, because we are *forced* to do ACST211 in the second half of our first year. We did a Statistics course called STAT171, but that didn't require the Mathematics or thinking behind what we needed for 211.
If 211 was taken by a student who had done Second Year Statistics there would be nothing to worry about at all. I mean, it's like teaching an average year ten, Extension 1 Mathematics...
Let's put things simply - I'm not scaring people. I'm just stating things as they are. No, Actuarial Studies isn't as difficult as a normal Commerce course. I mean, why would it be. I mean, the minimum UAI needed was high 96s and the bulk were above 98 at Macquarie. And most will drop out. So it's not hard. Whereas, most who undertake Commerce anyway, won't drop out. No, it isn't hard at all. I mean, I took Actuarial thinkin' it would just be more money at the end of the day. I mean, of course, the course would be of equal difficult as anything else on offer...
It just happens that people take Actuarial and leave with a startin' salary of about 10-20K above most other graduates... but it's of equal difficulty!
Btw, coroneosrules, what are you studyin' atm?
---------
A question found in 211 Tutorial Exercises:
A certain woman has two homes. Each day at noon she makes a decision as to whether she will move from her present home to other home. If she moves, the move can be assumed to occur immediately at noon. If she is at her city home the probability is p1 that she will decide to move is such that her expected length of stay at her city home is 9 days. When she is in her country home the corresponding probability p2 that she will decide to move is such that her expected length of stay at her country home is 4 days.
(a) Find p1 and p2.
(b) She will be at her city home tonight. Find the probability that she will be in her city home in 'n' nights time. (For example, if 'n' = 1 then we are referring to the probability she will be there tomorrow night.)
This question wasn't even in the later sections, so it isn't hard. Tell me what you think of the question, if you have the time.
)
