Skip to main content

Unit information: Further Topics In Probability 4 in 2019/20

Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Further Topics In Probability 4
Unit code MATHM0018
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Professor. Balazs
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

MATH20008 Probability 2

Co-requisites

None

School/department School of Mathematics
Faculty Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Unit Aims

To outline, discuss, and prove with full mathematical rigour some of the key results in classical probability theory; with special emphasis on applications.

Unit Description

This course deals with various analytic tools used and exploited in probability theory. Various modes of convergence of random variables (almost surely, weak, in probability, in Lp and in distribution) and the connections between them are presented. The key theorems are the Weak and Strong Laws of Large Numbers and the Central Limit Theorem. The analytic tools are: generating functions, Laplace- and Fourier transforms and fine analysis thereof.

Relation to Other Units

MATH34000 Measure Theory and Integration and MATH20006 Metric Spaces are recommended

Intended Learning Outcomes

To gain profound understanding of the basic notions and techniques of analytic methods in probability theory. In particular: generating functions, Laplace- and Fourier-transforms. To gain insight and familiarity with the various notions of convergence in the theory of random variables (in probability, almost sure, L^p, in distribution). Special emphasis will be on various “down-to-earth” applications of the mathematical theory.

Teaching Information

Lectures supported by problem sheets and solution sheets.

Assessment Information

80% Examination and 20% Coursework.

Raw scores on the examinations will be determined according to the marking scheme written on the examination paper. The marking scheme, indicating the maximum score per question, is a guide to the relative weighting of the questions. Raw scores are moderated as described in the Undergraduate Handbook.

Reading and References

Recommended

  • Richard Durrett, Probability – Theory and Examples, Duxbury Press, 1995
  • William Feller, An Introduction to Probability Theory and its Applications. Vols.1, 2, Wiley, 1970
  • John Lamperti, Probability - A Survey of the Mathematical Theory, W.A Benjamin Inc., 1966
  • Sidney I. Resnick, Adventures in Stochastic Processes, Birkhauser, 1992
  • Albert N. Shiryaev, Probability (Second Edition), Springer, Graduate Texts in Mathematics 95, 1996
  • David Williams, Probability with Martingales, Cambridge University Press, 1991

Feedback