📖Definition
Statistics is the branch of mathematics that deals with collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data. It helps us make sense of information, identify patterns, and draw conclusions from numbers.
📐Formula
Statistics uses various measures and representations: mean (average), median (middle value), mode (most frequent), and range (spread of data).
📝Step-by-Step Guide
Collect and Organize Data
Gather data and arrange it in a meaningful way (tables, lists, frequency charts).
Choose Appropriate Representations
Select the right graph type: bar graphs for categories, line graphs for trends, pie charts for parts of a whole.
Calculate Summary Statistics
Find mean, median, mode, and range to summarize the data.
Interpret and Draw Conclusions
Analyze what the data shows and make informed conclusions.
⚠️Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong type of graph for the data
- Confusing mean, median, and mode
- Not including all data points in calculations
- Misinterpreting graphs or scales
- Drawing conclusions beyond what the data shows
✏️Practice Problems
Find the range of: 12, 15, 8, 21, 10
Answer: 13 (21 - 8 = 13)
Which graph type is best for showing how a stock price changed over one year?
Answer: Line graph
A data set has mean 10 and five values. Four values are 8, 12, 7, 15. Find the fifth value.
Answer: 8
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