Course 2 Elementary Statistics

Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data. It provides powerful tools for making sense of the world around us, from everyday decision-making to scientific research and policy development. Elementary statistics, the foundation of the broader field, is concerned with the basic principles and techniques for understanding data, drawing conclusions, and making informed decisions.

This section will introduce essential statistics concepts, such as descriptive statistics, probability, and basic inferential methods. Descriptive statistics helps summarize and describe the features of a data set, providing an overview through measures like the mean, median, and standard deviation. We will also explore the concept of probability, which underpins many statistical methods, and learn how to use it to model uncertainty and predict future events. Lastly, we will delve into introductory inferential statistics, which allows us to make generalizations from sample data to larger populations.

Whether you’re analyzing test scores, surveying a population, or conducting an experiment, understanding the basics of statistics is crucial for drawing valid conclusions. This chapter will guide you through the fundamental techniques and concepts, laying the groundwork for more advanced topics in statistical analysis.

Prerequisite: Course 1 Probability Concept (familiarity with Calculus and Linear Algebra would be beneficial).