Statistics

Study of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.

Types of DataData Collection MethodsDescriptive Statistics
Probability and Probability DistributionsInferential StatisticsCorrelation and Regression
Statistics in SportsStatistics in MedicineStatistics in Business and Marketing
Reading and Interpreting GraphsAvoiding Common Statistical Mistakes
Types of DataData Collection Meth...Descriptive Statisti...Probability and Prob...Inferential Statisti...Correlation and Regr...Statistics in SportsStatistics in Medici...Statistics in Busine...Reading and Interpre...Avoiding Common Stat...
Advanced Topics

Probability and Probability Distributions

Predicting Outcomes

Probability is the mathematics of chance. It helps us estimate how likely something is to happen.

Basics of Probability

The probability of an event ranges from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).

\[ P(\text{Event}) = \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{Total number of possible outcomes}} \]

Probability Distributions

A probability distribution shows how probabilities are distributed over all possible outcomes.

  • Discrete Distributions (e.g., binomial, Poisson): Used for countable outcomes.
  • Continuous Distributions (e.g., normal, uniform): Used for measurable outcomes.

The Normal Distribution

Also known as the "bell curve", many natural phenomena follow this pattern.

Why It Matters

Understanding probability helps us make predictions and informed decisions based on data.

Key Formula

\[P(\text{Event}) = \frac{\text{favorable outcomes}}{\text{total outcomes}}\]

Examples

  • Flipping a coin and calculating the chance of getting heads.

  • Predicting the likelihood of rain based on weather data.

In a Nutshell

Probability and its distributions let us analyze and predict real-world randomness.

Key Terms

Probability
A measure of how likely an event is to occur.
Distribution
A way to show how probabilities are spread across all possible outcomes.
Normal Distribution
A bell-shaped distribution commonly seen in nature and statistics.
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Inferential Statistics