The Nature of Probability and Statistics

Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge of statistical terms.
Differentiate between the two branches of statistics.
Identify types of data.
Explain how statistics can be used and misused.
Explain the importance of computers and calculators in statistics.
Introduction
Statistics( The science of Counting ) : is the science of conducting studies to collect, organize, summarize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data. OR
Statistics : is the science that employs the use of scientific method in the methods of data collection, compiled and summarized and displayed and analyzed in order to access them on the conclusions and appropriate decisions .
Knowledge of statistics can be divided broadly into two main sections
Descriptive statistics consists Data collection in the form of digital measurements , organization, summarization, and presentation of data.
Inferential statistics consists of generalizing from samples to populations, performing estimations hypothesis testing, determining relationships among variables, and making predictions.


Probability : is the chance of an event occurring.
A population consists of all subjects that are being studied.
A sample is a group of subjects selected from a population.
A variable : is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different values.
Data : are the values that variables can assume.
Quantitative variables can be further classified into two groups.
Discrete variables assume values that can be counted. y= 2,3,5,9
Continuous variables can assume all values between any two specific values. (1:30
Computers and Calculators
In the past, statistical calculations were done with pencil and paper. However, with the advent of calculators, numerical computations became easier.
Statistical Packages
Excel, MINITAB, and the TI-83 graphing calculator can be used to perform statistical computations.
Students should realize that the computer and calculator merely give numerical answers and save time and effort of doing calculations by hand.

Summary
The two major areas of statistics are descriptive and inferential.
When the populations to be studied are large, statisticians use subgroups called samples.
Data can be classified as qualitative or quantitative.

Conclusion
The applications of statistics are many and varied. People encounter them in everyday life, such as in reading newspapers or magazines, listening to the radio, or watching television.