4Analytical statistics
Among the simplest examples of analytical statistics are the three types of average that you encountered earlier: mean, mode and median. These use very basic calculations to analyse data and create information that can easily be used to make decisions. Being given the weight of 500 individual products, you would find it difficult to come to any meaningful conclusions. However, knowing that the mean weight was 25 gm, you could decide how strong a box to put them in for delivery.
“Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write.”
H. G. Wells
Unfortunately, the mean value does not tell you anything about the range of weights. Are they all in the range 20 to 30 ...
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