MATH 1107Elementary Statistics

Lecture 1Introduction to Statistics

• About this course– Objectives– Assignments, Project & Grading Policy– Course Syllabus & Schedule– Use of Internet Site and EXCEL

• About You – Course Expectations

MATH 1107 - Introduction

Why I think Statistics is important:

• Nothing Kills an Opinion Like a Number;“Data trumps intuition. Instead of using our intuition, we experiment on the live site and let our customers tell us what works for them” – Director of Data Mining at Amazon (page 8)

• Stats is the basic medium for communication of data;

“Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write.”- H.G. Wells

• A basic understanding of Stats (and EXCEL) is required to do anything in any discipline well.

MATH 1107 - Introduction

Statistics and Decision Making:

Intelligence Design Choice

MATH 1107 - Introduction

Data assumes different forms – it answers the questions of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How:

•Census•Sample•Parameter•Sample•Qualitative•Quantitative•Discrete•Continuous

MATH 1107 - Introduction

MATH 1107 - Introduction

1. Nominal – Categorical• Gender• Colors

2. Ordinal – Categorical with Order• Course Grade• High/Medium/Low

3. Interval – No Natural Starting Point• Temperature

4. Ratio – Meaningful differences and True zero• Price of textbooks• Weight of textbooks