Statistics

Statistics is a mathematical science pertaining to the collection, analysis, interpretation or explanation, and presentation of data. It is applicable to a wide variety of academic disciplines, from the physical and social sciences to the humanities. Statistics are also used for making informed decisions in all areas of business and government.

Statistics analyzes data in two primary ways, the first is called descriptive statistics which describes and summarizes the data. Often this will include things like: the mean, standard error, or standard deviation. Also statistics can attempt to infer relationships between the data collected and various hypothesis or populations, this is called inferential statistics. Both descriptive and inferential statistics comprise applied statistics. There is also a discipline called mathematical statistics, which is concerned with the theoretical basis of the subject.

The word statistics is also the plural of statistic (singular), which refers to the result of applying a statistical algorithm to a set of data, as in employment statistics, accident statistics, etc. Statistics takes its name from the fact that it was traditionally taught to monarchs to enable them to manage affairs of state.