MATH 170B
Probability Theory
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisites: courses 131A, 170A. Continuation of rigorous presentation of probability theory based on real analysis. Moments and generating functions; laws of large numbers, central limit theorem, and convergence in distribution; branching processes; random walks; Poisson and other random processes in continuous time. Advance topics in probability theory. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2017 - Alexey speaks with a very strong European accent but nevertheless he speaks slowly so that students can understand what he is saying. He likes to use the phrase "in fact" a lot during his lectures but it is very funny because his accent makes it sound like he is using the F word all the way. Anyway, Alexey is very helpful, though I think it would help if he structured his lessons better. There were some lessons in the middle of the quarter, especially when it came to the part about convergence in probability where most of the class were confused because the lectures couldn't keep up with the understanding required from the homework that was set. However, Alexey gave us many homework time extensions because of this and was very understanding about submitting homework. He was also very helpful during office hours when I went to ask him about various homework questions every week (I had many questions because his homework was pretty difficult and needed a lot of applying concepts to new situations not seen during the lecture). Alexei only wears maybe 2 shirts the entire quarter, or perhaps he has multiple of these 2 shirts with the same 2 designs. In particular, he has a green and blue shirt of the same design and you will probably see him like that alternating between shirts every lecture. They say that geniuses always wear the same shirt so Alexei must be a genius. While Alexey's homeworks are very hard, his midterms and final are also hard but definitely no harder than the homeworks (since the homeworks are already very hard). In this manner, if you can understand exactly how to do each homework question and the concepts behind them, then you will have no problems for his exams. Make good use of his office hours and the TA's office hours to ask about homework questions because he tends to set questions very close to that of the homeworks and problems that he has gone through in class! Overall, Alexey gives off the impression that he is a big, warm teddy bear that can look quite intimidating at first, but can be quite funny when you talk to him.
Spring 2017 - Alexey speaks with a very strong European accent but nevertheless he speaks slowly so that students can understand what he is saying. He likes to use the phrase "in fact" a lot during his lectures but it is very funny because his accent makes it sound like he is using the F word all the way. Anyway, Alexey is very helpful, though I think it would help if he structured his lessons better. There were some lessons in the middle of the quarter, especially when it came to the part about convergence in probability where most of the class were confused because the lectures couldn't keep up with the understanding required from the homework that was set. However, Alexey gave us many homework time extensions because of this and was very understanding about submitting homework. He was also very helpful during office hours when I went to ask him about various homework questions every week (I had many questions because his homework was pretty difficult and needed a lot of applying concepts to new situations not seen during the lecture). Alexei only wears maybe 2 shirts the entire quarter, or perhaps he has multiple of these 2 shirts with the same 2 designs. In particular, he has a green and blue shirt of the same design and you will probably see him like that alternating between shirts every lecture. They say that geniuses always wear the same shirt so Alexei must be a genius. While Alexey's homeworks are very hard, his midterms and final are also hard but definitely no harder than the homeworks (since the homeworks are already very hard). In this manner, if you can understand exactly how to do each homework question and the concepts behind them, then you will have no problems for his exams. Make good use of his office hours and the TA's office hours to ask about homework questions because he tends to set questions very close to that of the homeworks and problems that he has gone through in class! Overall, Alexey gives off the impression that he is a big, warm teddy bear that can look quite intimidating at first, but can be quite funny when you talk to him.
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Richthammer is extremely organized and very clear in speech. His lectures are rather fast paced, but he speaks very clearly and encourages participation from the class. He writes all of his own problem sets, which are very challenging. However, you get a clear understanding of the material by completing the homework on your own. He never gives out answers during office hours, but gives hints to help guide students along. Basically, it's pointless to go to office hours if you haven't already tried the problems. His tests are challenging and requires a clear understanding of the material, but he curves very generously. My scores on two of the tests were over 100% after the curve. He also curved the class one more time in the end according to math department standards, which yielded quite a few A's. So overall a difficult class with relatively easy grading.
Professor Richthammer is extremely organized and very clear in speech. His lectures are rather fast paced, but he speaks very clearly and encourages participation from the class. He writes all of his own problem sets, which are very challenging. However, you get a clear understanding of the material by completing the homework on your own. He never gives out answers during office hours, but gives hints to help guide students along. Basically, it's pointless to go to office hours if you haven't already tried the problems. His tests are challenging and requires a clear understanding of the material, but he curves very generously. My scores on two of the tests were over 100% after the curve. He also curved the class one more time in the end according to math department standards, which yielded quite a few A's. So overall a difficult class with relatively easy grading.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - Rodriguez is amazing. He is extremely thorough, patient, and clear in his lectures, and makes more sense than the book does. He has a sense of humor, and he also has impeccable, beautiful handwriting, which is a plus in the math department. I highly recommend not missing lecture, and I would not be able to self-study for this class and still pass. Rodriguez is also extremely helpful during office hours, and willing to go over the homework (which is extremely difficult; definitely do not procrastinate on those problems). He holds extra office hours before every exam, including the final. His exams are difficult. You really have to understand the theory behind the problems. Overall, I enjoyed taking probability with Rodriguez even though I suffered through the class material, and i would definitely take another class with him given the chance.
Winter 2016 - Rodriguez is amazing. He is extremely thorough, patient, and clear in his lectures, and makes more sense than the book does. He has a sense of humor, and he also has impeccable, beautiful handwriting, which is a plus in the math department. I highly recommend not missing lecture, and I would not be able to self-study for this class and still pass. Rodriguez is also extremely helpful during office hours, and willing to go over the homework (which is extremely difficult; definitely do not procrastinate on those problems). He holds extra office hours before every exam, including the final. His exams are difficult. You really have to understand the theory behind the problems. Overall, I enjoyed taking probability with Rodriguez even though I suffered through the class material, and i would definitely take another class with him given the chance.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - The tests are straightforward as long as you study the practice exams. Plus, she gives 2 extra quizzes in case you don't do well on midterms. In the end, 25% get A- or above. There is tons of office hours and she is very approachable. I also found her explanations of problems are often quite interesting (a good thing).
Winter 2016 - The tests are straightforward as long as you study the practice exams. Plus, she gives 2 extra quizzes in case you don't do well on midterms. In the end, 25% get A- or above. There is tons of office hours and she is very approachable. I also found her explanations of problems are often quite interesting (a good thing).
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