Statistics

In Water Sciences, the use of probability and statistics for analyzing hydroclimatic and water quality data is essential. Lectures and application-based tutorials will help students brush up on their skills (covering high school and undergraduate-level problems), after which several new concepts will be introduced (including the test of conformity to a distribution).

The course is organized around the following chapters:

1. Elementary Probability Theory, Combinatorial Analysis. (Lecture 1, Tutorial 1)
2. Discrete and continuous random variables. Probability distribution and probability density function. Expectation, variance, covariance. (Lecture 2, Lab 2)
3. Simple Linear Regression (covered in Tutorial 3)
4. Multiple Linear Regression (covered in Tutorial 3)
5. Some Common Probability Distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal, Gamma, Gumbel) and Their Applications (Lecture 3, Lab 4)
6. Tests for Membership in a Law (covered in TD5)

The EU aims to bring students up to speed and provide them with a solid foundation in traditional approaches to descriptive statistics and regression—both linear and nonlinear—

single or multiple, and to apply simple probability distributions (binomial distribution, normal distribution, Poisson distribution). This course unit also aims to review the probability concepts necessary for interpreting the hydroclimatic information typically used in water sciences. Finally, the course aims to introduce students to the necessary tools of statistical inference. These statistical inference tools will be explored in greater depth during the “Hydrological Analysis” course offered as part of the Water Resources track.

Science or Technology Baccalaureate (or, if not, remedial math courses at the Baccalaureate level, covering at least: derivatives, integrals, etc.)

Recommended prerequisites*: