- Docente: Pietro Rigo
- Credits: 6
- SSD: MAT/06
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Statistical Sciences (cod. 9222)
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from Sep 20, 2022 to Oct 24, 2022
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student acquires the fundamental notions of the theories of conditional probability and weak convergence of probability measures. In particular, the student is able to investigate the asymptotic behaviour of sequences of probability measures arising in statistical inference and to coherently employ the concept of conditional probability in the statistical investigation.
Course contents
Probability spaces
A few elementary notions of measure theory
Random variables and their probability distributions
Probability measures on R and R^n
Moments
Conditional distributions
Characteristic functions
Weak convergence of probability measures
Other modes of convergence
Laws of large numbers
Central limit theoremsReadings/Bibliography
Billingsley P. (1986) Probability and measure, Wiley, New York
Dall'Aglio G. (1987) Calcolo delle probabilita', Zanichelli.
Grimmett G. and Stirzaker D. (2001) Probability and random processes, Oxford University Press.
Teaching methods
Lectures and class exercises
Assessment methods
The first part of the exam consists of a written assignment. Usually, the latter consists in 4 or 5 simple exercises which are obvious versions of those solved by the teacher.
The second part of the exam, subject to overcoming the first, lies in an oral interview. The possible questions may concern each part of the course. Typically, the interview starts with a very general question (such as "Conditional distributions" or "The central limit theorem") and then, as the topic is introduced, they become more specific. In addition to knowledge of the topics discussed in the course, evaluation criteria are the skill to connect different arguments and the adequacy and consistency of the adopted language. A mnemonic exposition, as well as the inability to discuss with the teacher, are penalized. In other terms, it is important to be able to discuss with the teacher, to be interrupted, and possibly to address some simple objections.
The above remarks do not depend on whether the exam is online or in presence. However, for online interviews, it is desirable (even if not mandatory) that the camera is able to frame the sheet where the student is writing.
Teaching tools
Notes and the text-books quoted above
Office hours
See the website of Pietro Rigo