The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famously wrote: A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. This textbook will lead you, step-by-step, on a journey through the important concepts of statistics and if you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first step! Thankfully, our journey will be much less physically taxing than a “journey of a thousand miles” and will only require use of your feet for determining skewness (see page 57). We are now on the leading edge of a major revolution in technology, and the content of this text is key to that revolution. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are studied in data science, and the study of data science requires study of the discipline of statistics. Data science is now experiencing unprecedented growth. Projections indicate a 33% increased demand for statisticians in a few short years, and there is a projected shortage of workers with statistical skills. Also, as in past decades, statistics continues to be essential to a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, polling, journalism, law, physical science, education, business, and economics. It is a gross understatement to suggest that it is now very wise to initiate a study of statistics. Goals of This Fourteenth Edition ■ Foster personal growth of students through critical thinking, use of technology, collaborative work, and development of communication skills. ■ Incorporate the latest and best methods used by professional statisticians. ■ Include features that address all of the recommendations included in the Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) as recommended by the American Statistical Association. ■ Provide an abundance of new and interesting data sets, examples, and exercises, such as those involving biometric security, cybersecurity, drones, and Internet traffic. ■ Present topics used in data science and many other applications, and include very large data sets that have become so important in our current culture. ■ Enhance teaching and learning with the most extensive and best set of supplements and digital resources. Audience, Prerequisites Elementary Statistics is written for high school students preparing for any college major or career path. Algebra is used minimally. It is recommended that students have completed at least an elementary algebra course prior to taking Elementary Statistics. In many cases, underlying theory is included, but this book does not require the mathematical rigor more appropriate for mathematics majors. Instead of being a “cookbook” devoid of any theory, this book includes the mathematics underlying important statistical methods, but the focus is on understanding and applying those methods along with interpreting results in a meaningful way. PREFACE xi
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