Data Analysis for Business

• • 1. Week 1 - Module 1 (Mathematics of Finance) Introduction to Unit. Introduction to mathematics of finance. Interest, present and future values of a single amount, solution for time and interest rate. Effective and equivalent rates.
  • 1.1) Read Lecture Notes: Mod 1, pp. 1-10
  • 2. Week 2 - Perpetuities. Introduction to simple annuities. Solving for R, N, i. Partial payments.
  • 2.1) Mod 1, pp. 11-20
  • 2.2) Workshops and tutorials commence
  • 3. Week 3 - Amortization & sinking funds (including dealing with changes in interest rate, missed/extra payments), ‘flat rate’ problems.
  • 3.1) Mod 1, pp. 21-31
  • 3.2) Online Test 1 (5%)
  • 4. Week 4 - Module 2 (Data & Summary Statistics) The statistical process. Sources of data. Sources of error and bias. Types of sampling. Types of variable. Computing activity: Excel basics
  • 4.1) Videos, Mod 2, pp 1-9
  • 4.2) Assignment 1 due (10%)
  • 5. Week 5 - Univariate statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, range, IQR, percentiles). Plots for univariate data (pie-charts, bars, stem & leaf plots, histograms). Measuring grouped data. Computing activity: Pivot Tables in Excel
  • 5.1) Videos, Mod 2, pp 10-24
  • 6. Week 6 - Working with bivariate data. Scatterplots. Computing and interpreting the correlation coefficient. Basics of linear regression. Computing activity: Regression in Excel
  • 6.1) Videos Mod 2, pp 25-39
  • 6.2) Online Test 2 (5%)
  • 7. Week 7 - Forum (More details available in preceding weeks)
  • 7.1) All material from first six weeks
  • 7.2) Assignment 2 due (10%)
  • 8. Mid-Semester Break
  • 8.1) n/a
  • 9. Week 8 - Module 3: Probability - concepts, laws, trees and tables, independence, Bayes' rule.
  • 9.1) Mod 3, pp. 1-16
  • 10. Week 9 - Discrete Probability Distributions - expectations, Poisson, binomial. Continuous Probability Distributions; normal, z-scores, approximations of the binomial and Poisson by the normal
  • 10.1) Mod 3, pp. 17-36
  • 11. Week 10 - Sampling Distributions - sampling distribution of means, sampling of proportions, Central Limit Theorem, finite population correction factor, the Student's t distribution.
  • 11.1) Mod 3, pp. 37-48
  • 11.2) Online Test 3 (5%)
  • 12. Week 11 - Module 4 - Estimation & Inference Estimation - point & interval estimates, determination of optimal sample size, Inference - one sample tests of mean and proportion, types of error, one and two tailed tests, significance
  • 12.1) Mod 4, pp. 1-13
  • 12.2) Assignment 3 due (10%)
  • 13. Week 12 - Bi-variate Inference - Chi-squared test for independence. Tests for existence of linear relationship, confidence interval for slope.
  • 13.1) Mod 4, pp. 14-25
  • 14. Week 13 - Unit Review and Exam Preview
  • 14.1) Optional make-up assignment due 19 October. (5%)
  • 15. Examination Period
  • 15.1) n/a

No eligibility requirements

Special requirements

No special requirements

BEA140 is a foundation subject in business statistics and the mathematics of finance, and is a core subject in the Bachelor of Economics (BEc) and Bachelor of Business (BBus) degrees. It is also a nominated elective in a wide range of other programs throughout the University of Tasmania. This subject is intended to provide a background capacity in mathematics of finance and statistical description and analysis, appropriate for a business student. The focus of the subject is on the practical use of data in business and economic decision environments,

especially in an environment of risk and uncertainty. The subject is an introduction to the exciting world of applying mathematics and statistics to business problems. By studying a variety of examples based on real world problems, the subject highlights the application of quantitative methodologies to assist managers, and decision makers, in dimensioning and communicating risks and opportunities.

• Online Quizzes x3 (15%)
• Final Exam (55%)
• Problem Solving Scenarios x 3 (30%)

Current study term: 23 May 21 to 22 Aug 21)

Next study term: 11 Jul 21 to 17 Oct 21