Syllabus.
Statistics 19: Poker and Probability, Prof. Rick Paik Schoenberg.
Lectures: Mondays 1-1:50pm, Humanities A46.
Office hours: Mondays, 2:00-3:30pm, MS 8965.
email: frederic@stat.ucla.edu
Course webpage:
http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~frederic/19/F08
This seminar will explore the fundamental concepts of elementary probability
theory and statistics, which are useful in a very wide variety of scientific
applications. Students will learn the basic foundations of probability, including
the axioms of probability, the addition and multiplication rules, conditional
probability, expected values, and combinatorics. In addition, we will discuss
important statistical concepts such as the standard deviation, the law of large
numbers, the central limit theorem, simulation, standard errors, and confidence
intervals. All of these topics, which are broadly applicable in the sciences, will
be motivated by examples of situations and concepts that arise naturally when
playing Texas Hold'em.
Grading: There will be no written homework, no tests, and no quizzes.
There will be weekly readings, class discussions, and a project which is
described below. My only requirement, other than the project, is that
each student must make some contribution to the class discussion every
week.
Project: (Due by email on Friday, Nov 21, 11:00pm).
Design and write an R function which takes as inputs the variables
listed and described at
http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~frederic/19/F08/code1.html ,
and which returns an integer indicating a fold or all-in bet.
Your code, once submitted, will be in the public domain and free for others
to read and use.
Submit your R function to me by email at frederic@stat.ucla.edu .
Note: your code must in some way be different from the examples
online at the course website.
Students with learning disabilities must consult with the instructor
by the 2nd week of class
if special arrangements are required.