Announcements

May 13, 2020 (1:21 AM)

I put links to the answers for HW 11 and HW 12 on the homework web page.

May 12, 2020 (2:31 AM)

Below are the links to the three final exam problems. (Each problem counts 4% towards your overall final course average, but if your quiz/exam average winds up being greater than your homework average, the exam will then count a total of 17% instead of 12%. (See the April 11 announcement below for more explanation.)) Your solutions are due at 10:15 PM on Tuesday, May 19.
Problem 1 of Final Exam
Problem 2 of Final Exam
Problem 3 of Final Exam

Apr. 29, 2020 (3:08 AM)

I put link to the answers for HW 10 on the homework web page. *** Note: The new grading scheme will be as described on my April 11 announcement. (The percentages I mentioned earlier in lecture were a little different, but I'll use what is stated in the April 11 announcement (below).)

Apr. 22, 2020 (2:00 AM)

I put link to the answers for HW 9 on the homework web page. *** I think the recording I made of the lecture was successful. (I didn't listen to all of it, but the first part was good, and there is an indication that it is about 2.5 hours long.) I haven't figured out how to put a link in Blackboard so that you can get to the recording easily, but I can explain how to listen to it. First, click on the Week 12 tab, and then within Week 12 click on the link to Blackboard Collaborative Ultra. Near the left end of the black band going across (near the top) with Sessions on it, click on the three horizonatal white line segments (the menu tab). Then click Recordings, and then click Class 12 / recording 1, and from there it should be obvious what to do.

Apr. 18, 2020 (5:04 PM)

I posted HW 12 on the homework web page. As with HW 10 and HW 11, be sure to carefully follow the instructions in red given with the assignment on the homework web page. HW 12 is the last homework assignment for this semester, but one week after it is due, a rather short take-home, open-book final exam will be due. (The final example will be comprised of three exercises, and should take about the same amount of time as a homework assignment from the 2nd half of the semester.) *** Also, I forgot to announce it at the time, but several days ago I posted the answers for HW 8 on the homework web page.

Apr. 17, 2020 (10:53 PM)

I posted HW 11 on the homework web page. As with HW 10, be sure to carefully follow the instructions in red given with the assignment on the homework web page.

Apr. 11, 2020 (11:31 PM)

I posted HW 10 on the homework web page. *** I think I figured out what the problem with the random number generation has been due to. Apparently, the default random number generator used by R was somewhat recently changed. Those of you who were using a slightly older version of R were getting different results from those using a newer version. But by entering RNGversion("3.5.0") prior to setting the seed and using random numbers on HW 10, we should all be using the same random number generator. (Note: I picked version 3.5.0 because it was the version that was current when I last used the Auto data in a similar assignment, and I know it produces a decent division of the data into training and test sets.) But don't use RNGversion("3.5.0") HW 8 and HW 9. Instead carefully follow the instructions in red on the homework web page. *** With the conversion to online teaching, the trouble with the random number generators in R, and the university's administration not letting me use my office (which led me to move to South Carolina to set up a home office), I decided to alter this semester's version of STAT 472. I discontinued the weekly quizzes and decided to not give the same type of final exam I have given in the past. Because of these changes it makes sense to alter the grading scheme that was given in the syllabus in January. Rather than change the syllabus now, I'll instead just state the new scheme here: each of your best 4 of 5 quiz scores will count 3% each (so a total of 12%) for quizzes, each of the 3 take-home final exam problems I'll come up with will count 4% each (so a total of 12% for the take-home final exam), and the homework will count 66%. You might notice that that adds up to only 90%. If your homeork average is greater than your quiz/exam average, I'll increase the weight of your homework to 76%, but if your quiz/exam average is greater than your homework average, then I'll increase the weight of your quizzes to 17% and increase the weight of your exam to 17%. Since homework is now counting more than originally planned in January, you should strive to work carefully and not do the assignments too hastily and make mistakes.

Apr. 8, 2020 (2:11 AM)

I posted the answers for HW 7 on the homework web page.

Apr. 2, 2020 (6:42 PM)

I added some important notes about HW 7, HW8, and HW 9 in red to the homework web page. You need to make sure you're using the same training and tets sets that I intend you to use. Since it's still a mystery why we get different results using the same random number seed, I have now set up an alternative way for you to obtain the training and test set I want you to use.

Mar. 29, 2020 (8:24 PM)

I put links to HW 7, HW 8, and HW 9 on the homework web page. Please let me know if the division of the data into training and test sets isn't coming out like I indicate that it should. (I used one of these data sets years ago when I taught STAT 672 (and I have also played with the data since for another course), and last night I discovered that the random division of the data wasn't the same as it was the last time few times I used the data.) If your training and test sets don't come out as I indicate they should in the assignments, then don't bother continuing to work on the assignment until I get things figured out. *** I've already covered the material that HW 7 and HW 8 are based on, and this coming Tuesday I'll finish covering the material pertinent to HW 9.

Mar. 24, 2020 (2:15 AM)

Once again, Brody helped me find an error ... I accidentally took out the instructions to attach the training data when I revised HW 6 ... so just a very short time ago I revised it again. (I'm so sorry about the confusion. Last night I was shocked that the random division of the data into the two parts was now done differently than it was before, which made some of the comments I originally had in the assignment incorrect. So I (too) quickly tried to modify the assignment, and took out one line of code too many. (I've been told that I made need to vacate my office, which has me frazzled! I've got over 30 years worth of maerial stored in various file cabinets and boxes, and so I'm trying to gather up what I might need/want in case I have to stay away from here for a while. (I'm trying to scan lots of stuff so I can move it to Blackboard or my course web sites.))) I hope the things will now work correctly if you paste the newly revised (for a 2nd time) code into R.

Mar. 23, 2020 (3:07 AM)

Brody pointed out to me on Sunday night that he wasn't getting the results I indicated one should get in HW 6. Apparently, sometime relatively recently, R's random number generator has been changed. (In all of my years of using R, I've never had this problem before. I have sometimes gone back to something I did many years ago and got the same random number results.) Because the random splitting of the data into a training set and a test set resulted in differences, some of my comments in HW 6 were wrong. So I had to redo HW 6. I posted the revised (and shortened) HW 6 on the homework web page just a short while ago. Because of the mix-up, I've made the due date the 31st instead of the 24th. (So nothing is due this week.) I've also removed HW 7 and HW 8 that I had posted previously ... I had better check to make sure that they don't have problems due to the random numbers used. *** It's been a tough semester, with my busted arm and now having to learn how to teach online, and of course the unusual life, filled with more fear than usual, we're all having to now lead. Because of all of the problems, I'm going to cut back on some of the work I normally have students do in STAT 472; for example, I don't think I'll try to have any more quizzes this semester. But I still think you can learn a lot if you want to by spending more time reading the book and watching the videos. I'll go easy on the grading at the end of the semester. Just try to do a decent job on the homework for now, and once the Faculty Senate comes up with recommendations for how to handle final exams, I'll try to come up with something appropriate. (In the past, the STAT 472 Final Exam has been very similar to the quizzes ... just a lot longer. But I'm going to change it this semester.)

Mar. 18, 2020 (12:44 AM)

No one from STAT 472 joined me for the test run of using Blackboard Collaborative Ultra, but fortunately some students from my Monday night class did, and so I feel confident that my online lectures next week will go okay. If you've been involved in Blackboard Collaborative Ultra sessions before, then you should have no problem with my lecture next week, but if you have never used it and want to try a brief test run, then contact me and we can set one up (maybe Friday, or perhaps even Wed evening ... but I may be tied up with too many other activities on Thur).

Mar. 17, 2020 (5:48 PM)

Please continue to check ths web site regularly for announcements, HW assignments, quiz info, and (eventually) a study guide for the final exam. (I won't e-mail you to inform you each time I add something new unless is rather urgent.) I'll use Blackboard for lectures and posting lecture notes.

Mar. 17, 2020 (2:38 PM)

Our STAT 472 class resumes a week from today in online mode. Specifically, I'll be using Blackboard Collaborative Ultra to communicate with you. Until this past Saturday, I had never used Blackboard before (since I prefer to make my own course web sites), and I've never taught online before. That being the case, I'm going to follow the recommendations that faculty have been sent about the conversion to online teaching, and teach in a synchronous manner; which means that instead of using prerecorded lectures, you will have to listen to me during the official 7:20 to 10:00 PM time slot on Tuesdays, starting next week on the 24th. However, I'd like to do a quick test tonight at 7:20 PM, and I hope that some of you can join me in order to help me determine if things are working as I expect them to. For this test, go to the STAT 472 Blackboard site and in the green panel on the left you should see Week 8. Click there, and then click Blackboard Collaborative Ultra, and then click Test Session. (It's dated 3/15, because I first created it an opened it on Sunday.) I'll be there by 7:10 in case you arrive early, and I'll stay there until 7:40. Please be patient since this will be my first time connecting with anyone else using Collaborate Ultra.) (Participation in the test session is optional, but I hope at least a couple of you can make it in order to help me test my understanding of using Collaborative Ultra.) *** Note: On the 24th, you'll meet me the same way, except instead of clicking on Test Session inside of Collaborative Ultra, you'll click on Class 8, STAT 472. On the 24th, HW 6 will be due (no 24 hour grace period ... get it to me by 11 PM on the 24th), but we won't have a quiz. (Perhaps quizzes will resume the following week, but I'm not sure yet.)

Mar. 12, 2020 (2:14 AM)

Late on Wednesday, the faculty was informed that Spring Break would be extended one week, and then all classes would be taught online (at least for a few weeks, and perhaps longer). At this point I don't have enough information to allow me to make good decisions about how to handle everything, but I will state that I've changed the due date of the next assignment to be submitted to now be Tuesday, the 24th. I guess everyone will need to either fax or e-mail their solutions since the administration does not seem to want students coming to campus. If you can create a .pdf file to attach to e-mail, that may be the best thing to do. If you scan handwritten solutions, be sure to write darkly so that the writing on the scanned version is sufficiently dark. Do not e-mail photos of handwritten pages taken with a phone. While we're in online mode, I've eliminated the grace period for homework (and so assignments will be due by 10 PM on the Tue. due date). *** For now, all scheduled quizzes have been postponed ... quizzes may (or may not) resume at a later date.

Mar. 9, 2020 (8:17 PM)

Desiring to get ahead in my work during Spring Break, I went ahead and posted hints for Quiz 8 and Quiz 8 on the quizzes web page, and I also posted two more homework assignments on the homework web page (but perhaps best to wait until two weeks before the due dates to start working on these assignments).

Mar. 5, 2020 (2:43 AM)

I posted the answers for HW 5 on the homework web page, and I also posted HW 7.

Mar. 4, 2020 (12:41 AM)

I posted the answers for Quiz 5, along with hints for Quiz 6 and Quiz 7, on the quizzes web page.

Feb. 27, 2020 (3:56 AM)

I posted the answers for HW 4 on the homework web page, and I also posted HW 6 (which will be due after Spring Break).

Feb. 26, 2020 (12:19 AM)

I posted the answers for Quiz 4 on the quizzes web page.

Feb. 20, 2020 (2:03 AM)

I posted the answers for HW 3 on the homework web page.

Feb. 19, 2020 (12:25 AM)

I posted the answers for Quiz 3 on the quizzes web page.

Feb. 14, 2020 (10:41 PM)

I posted the answers for HW 2 on the homework web page. (Some of the scores weren't so good this time. I encourage you to read over my solutions and strive to better understand how to find a Bayes classifier.)

Feb. 13, 2020 (6:40 PM)

I posted hints for the 4th and 5th quizzes on the quizzes web page. Now I have hints posted for all of the remaining quizzes prior to Spring Break. (Note: Some of the quizzes after Spring Break may involve some numerical calculations, and so you might want to start bringing a calculator to class after Spring Break.)

Feb. 11, 2020 (3:55 AM)

I posted the answers for Quiz 2 on the quizzes web page. *** Someone left two packets of class notes in the classroom; the notes that start with p. 3-9, and the notes that start with p. 3-27. I took these notes back to my office with me.

Feb. 9, 2020 (4:48 AM)

I posted the answers for Quiz 1 on the quizzes web page.

Feb. 5, 2020 (6:04 PM)

I posted the answers for HW 1 on the homework web page.

Feb. 1, 2020 (4:14 AM)

In an effort to get way ahead in my work before my surgery on Feb. 6, I posted HW 3, HW 4, and HW 5 on the homework web page (but you should perhaps wait until after the 3rd, 4th, and 5th lectures to do these assignments). *** I've also posted hints for the 2nd and 3rd quizzes on the quizzes web page.

Jan. 29, 2020 (5:43 AM)

I posted HW 2 on the homework web page. I'll try to get the hints for Quiz 2 posted in the next day or two. *** I've changed the classroom on the syllabus to reflect that our classroom is 1108 instead of 1008.

Jan. 27, 2020 (2:53 AM)

The classroom has been moved to Room 1008 of the Nguyen Engineering Building.

Jan. 22, 2020 (5:35 AM)

I posted the first (rather short, and rather simple) homework assignment on the homework web page. As I mentioned in class, a main purpose of the assignment is just to make sure everyone installs R and begins to learn the things covered in the R tutorial given in Sec. 2.3 of the text. If you read the instructions carefully, you should see that all I want you to turn in is a single plot, and a few numerical values that you can write somewhere on the sheet of paper containing the plot. You don't have to submit anything for the parts of the assignment worth 0 points (but some of those parts may be the basis for a quiz question or two on a future quiz (but not the first quiz)). *** Also, on the quizzes web page, I describe the first quiz (to be given on Feb. 4), providing very strong clues about what the questions will pertain to. *** In class I was a bit uncertain about having a "grace period" for homework submission. Upon thinking more about it, I've decided that the way my week will typically play out, I can afford to give you a 24 hour grace period for each homework assignment (so you can have up until 10 PM on Wednesday night if you need a bit more time ... but it will be greatly appreciated if most of the time you submit your papers in class Tue night).

Jan. 6, 2020 (4:08 PM)

I just finished editing this web site to make it ready for the start of the 2020 Spring semester. (I'll add to it a lot as we go through the course this winter and spring.) Please take time to read the syllabus rather carefully and also read through the policies and expectations concerning homework on the this web page. I'll expect students to comply with all of the stated rules and procedures. *** It would also be nice if you read the first chapter of the text book, and watched the Chapter 1 videos from Hastie and Tibshirani's online course (which are linked to from the text book's web site) before our first class meeting on Jan. 21. *** To show you what your reward might be for being a good class this semester, I've left may last post (see below) from the 2018 Spring semester offering of the course. Typically for undergraduate classes (like when I teach STAT 346), I give a fairly high proportion of grades of C or lower. But that spring I had a decent class (not everyone did great, but they didn't cause me a lot of grief (i.e., they were "happy campers")), and the lowest grade I gave was a B- and the "class GPA" was 3.333.

May 15, 2018 (1:24 AM)

I just submitted the final grades for the class. Although none of you did particularly great on the final exam, overall I was pleased with your performance this semester. I wound up giving 1 A, 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, and 1 B-.