Statistics 221

Summary

  1. Content: The webpage contains links to several Java applets ( small, self-contained programs that run in web pages) to demonstrate various concepts in Statistics 221 in an interactive, dynamic way. Each applet is centered on a classical random experiment or process. The applets provide excellent means for students to experience and visualize the random processes that they are studying in the course.
  2. Input: The parameters controlling the random process of interest can be selected (seed) or entered in the left panel of the interface. In particular, the default seed number is 80239 but that can be changed to any of the remaining nine available numbers. Seed is the number used to initialize a pseudorandom number generator; the same seed numbers produce always the same outcomes to achieve consistency among students. Moreover, entry boxes are used to enter the number of simulations, maximum number of iterations, step size, probability, etc. You can control how often graphs and data are updated with a scroll bar.
  3. Output: The right panel contains some intermediate and final numerical summaries for the simulations. Finally, the bottom panel allows the user to see the numerical and graphical outcomes of the simulation in real time.
  4. System Requirements: The demonstrations require a Java (1.4 or higher) -enabled browser. You can download the most recent Java version from the website.
  5. Acknowledgements: The Java applets have been developed by Calvin Chan, Random Knowledge, Edmonton.

 
Statistical Laboratories Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta