Statistics
See my DCHS website to download assignments, notes, and handouts for statistics.
What is statistics?
Statistics is the study and analysis of data sets. There are two branches: descriptive and inferential. Descriptive statistics answers the question, "How can we describe this data set?" Inferential statistics answers the question, "Knowing something about a small part of the population, what can we say about the whole population?"
Reprinted with permission from Sid Harris.
What will we be studying?
Our statistics class will follow the pacing guide set by DeSoto County Schools. You can find a copy here. This is our general schedule:
1st 9-Weeks - Descriptive statistics
2nd 9-Weeks - Probability
3rd & 4th 9-Weeks - Inferential statistics
This class is a post-Algebra II class. However, many people who find algebra difficult find that they thrive in statistics. There is no equation solving and no graphing of functions, but there are many concepts, details, formulas, and procedures to learn. In order to succeed, you must be a mature student, diligent in your work, willing to dig in & get your hands dirty. You must learn to study for understanding and not for this week's test. Many of the concepts we will learn will be used repeatedly throughout the year. In statistics, cramming is fatal!!
If you were to compare our pacing guide to the syllabus of a sophomore level college statistics course, you would find them very similar in depth, with ours being perhaps even a bit deeper since we will meet five times per week for two semesters. (Most college courses meet for three hours per week for one semester.)
What kinds of careers use statistics?
There are many fields that use statistics experts. Please take a look at this presentation from AmStat.org.
| stat_careers.pdf | |
| File Size: | 622 kb |
| File Type: | |