UnitLevel 3Undergraduate

MTH3241 Random processes in the sciences and engineering

Faculty of Science

MTH3241 Random processes in the sciences and engineering is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 2 units.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2021
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
Exam 60%
and 1 other task

This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before MTH3241

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

Enrolment rules

PREREQUISITE: Students must be enrolled in the Master of Financial Mathematics or have passed one of MTH2010, MTH2015, MTH2019, MTH2040, ENG2005 or ETC2440; and one of MTH2222 or ETC2520.

Overview

This unit introduces the methods of stochastic processes and statistics used in the analysis of biological data, physics, economics and engineering. At the completion of the unit you will understand the application of classical techniques, such as Poisson processes, Markov chains, hidden Markov chains, random walks, martingale theory, birth and death processes, and branching processes in the analysis of DNA sequences, population genetics, dynamics of populations, telecommunications and economic analysis.

Offerings in 2021

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonOn campus

Assessment

  • Continuous assessmentOtherThreshold hurdle
    40%
  • Examination (3 hours and 10 minutes)ExamThreshold hurdle
    60%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Understand the idea of random variables varying with time;

  2. 2

    Analyse Markov chains at the elementary level, in discrete and continuous time;

  3. 3

    Understand key processes in probability, including the Poisson process, birth process, birth and death process, branching processes, random walks, martingales;

  4. 4

    Apply the probability processes to practical situations, including queues, epidemics, servicing machines, networks, financial markets and insurance risk.

Workload and teaching

  • Lectures36 hours
  • Applied sessions16.5 hours
  • Three 1-hour lectures and
  • One 1.5-hour applied class per week (in weeks 2-12)

Learning resources

Required resources

Dimitri P. Bertsekas and John N. Tsitsiklis, Introduction to Probability, Athena Scientific, 2002.

Gregory F. Lawler, Introduction to Stochastic processes, Second Edition, Chapman and Hall, 2006.

Henry C. Tuckwell, Elementary Applications of Probability Theory, Chapman and Hall, 1988.

Howard M. Taylor and Samuel Karlin, An Introduction to Stochastic Modeling, Academic Press, 1984.

Peter Guttorp, Stochastic Modeling of Scientific Data, Chapman & Hall, 1995.

Sheldon M. Ross, Introduction to Probability Models, Academic Press, 2007.

Where it fits

MTH3241 is part of 7 areas of study in the 2021 handbook.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Associate Professor Kais Hamza
Chief Examiners
Associate Professor Kais Hamza

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for MTH3241?

MTH3241 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

What can I take after MTH3241?

MTH3241 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including MTH5220 and MTH5230.

When is MTH3241 offered?

In 2021, MTH3241 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

Does MTH3241 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.

Which majors and minors include MTH3241?

MTH3241 is part of Applied mathematics; Financial and insurance mathematics; Mathematical statistics; Mathematics; and Pure mathematics.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
3
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Organisational unit
School of Mathematics
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 1
Study abroad
Available