How to Understand and Use Basic Statistics
Work on gaining a knowledge of statistics., Learn the terms most often used in statistical analysis. , Start applying them to every day life., Learn about statistics in order to understand what others may be telling you and to facilitate your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Work on gaining a knowledge of statistics.
Average- the usual, or what might be considered ordinary
- The 'average' family has 2 children (made up statistic). -
Step 2: Learn the terms most often used in statistical analysis.
, Newspapers Media News Politics Sports ,,,, How that is done will depend on your software.
Chances are, it will have a grid like appearance. , Basically, you are asking the program to come up with (in this instance), the mean (5.5), the mode (6), and the median (6).
Note that the software doesn't have to lay the information out in a straight line to come up with the answer. , These numbers indicate that if this was a room full of children (24 of them), that the average age (the mean) is
5.5 years old.
The mode of six would indicate that there are more six year old children than any other age in the room.
The median is indicated by taking the set of (1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,5,6,6,6,6,6,7,7,7,7,8,8,8,9,9) and counting 12 in from each side.
In this instance, it puts you straight in the middle of the sixes and therefore the median is six.
You would add the numbers (in this case 6+6), then divide by two, which of course, would be
6. , You can use stats to tell about percentage of games won, percentage of games won versus another team, etc. ,, Divide the number of wins by the total number of games. , Divide the number of losses by the total number of games. , Divide one by four to get a win percentage of 25%.
Divide three by four to get a loss percentage of 75%.
Washington Redskins with 3 wins and 2 losses.
This would, seemingly, be comparing apples and oranges, because of the different number of games played.
Divide three by five for a win percentage of 60%.
Divide two by five for a loss percentage of 40%.
With this information, you can tell that the Redskins are easily outplaying the Vikings at this juncture. ,, In the 2000 census, Thurston County, Washington had a median income of $46,975, compared to a national median income of $41,994.
By dividing 46,975 by 41,994, you can figure out that Thurston County's median income is 11% higher than the national median income.
Also in the 2000 census, McDowell County, West Virginia's median income was $16,931 and the national median income was $41,994.
Divide 16,931 by 41,994 to see that McDowell County is 40% below the national median. -
Step 3: Start applying them to every day life.
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Step 4: Learn about statistics in order to understand what others may be telling you and to facilitate your understanding and ability to know what questions to ask.
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Step 5: Learn the best way to representyour statistics
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Step 6: if needed.
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Step 7: Find some software that will help you manipulate a given set of values.
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Step 8: Insert the values that are displayed in the image.
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Step 9: Query the program.
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Step 10: Understand what it indicates.
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Step 11: Decide what you are going to use the statistics for.
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Step 12: Go to your newspaper for the information or your team's web page or sports web page.
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Step 13: Calculate the win percentage.
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Step 14: Calculate the loss percentage.
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Step 15: Example: Minnesota Vikings have a current tally of 1 win and 3 losses out of 4 games.
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Step 16: Pick a site with statistical information about various cities.
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Step 17: Determine the median income of your county.
Detailed Guide
Average- the usual, or what might be considered ordinary
- The 'average' family has 2 children (made up statistic).
, Newspapers Media News Politics Sports ,,,, How that is done will depend on your software.
Chances are, it will have a grid like appearance. , Basically, you are asking the program to come up with (in this instance), the mean (5.5), the mode (6), and the median (6).
Note that the software doesn't have to lay the information out in a straight line to come up with the answer. , These numbers indicate that if this was a room full of children (24 of them), that the average age (the mean) is
5.5 years old.
The mode of six would indicate that there are more six year old children than any other age in the room.
The median is indicated by taking the set of (1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,5,6,6,6,6,6,7,7,7,7,8,8,8,9,9) and counting 12 in from each side.
In this instance, it puts you straight in the middle of the sixes and therefore the median is six.
You would add the numbers (in this case 6+6), then divide by two, which of course, would be
6. , You can use stats to tell about percentage of games won, percentage of games won versus another team, etc. ,, Divide the number of wins by the total number of games. , Divide the number of losses by the total number of games. , Divide one by four to get a win percentage of 25%.
Divide three by four to get a loss percentage of 75%.
Washington Redskins with 3 wins and 2 losses.
This would, seemingly, be comparing apples and oranges, because of the different number of games played.
Divide three by five for a win percentage of 60%.
Divide two by five for a loss percentage of 40%.
With this information, you can tell that the Redskins are easily outplaying the Vikings at this juncture. ,, In the 2000 census, Thurston County, Washington had a median income of $46,975, compared to a national median income of $41,994.
By dividing 46,975 by 41,994, you can figure out that Thurston County's median income is 11% higher than the national median income.
Also in the 2000 census, McDowell County, West Virginia's median income was $16,931 and the national median income was $41,994.
Divide 16,931 by 41,994 to see that McDowell County is 40% below the national median.
About the Author
John Young
Experienced content creator specializing in practical skills guides and tutorials.
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