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Kyla
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What are some recommendations for getting through a statistics course when math is not your best subject #Spring26?
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Joseph Aseo
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Joseph’s Answer
To succeed in a statistics class, start by understanding that it's all about numbers. Begin with basic math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Then, move on to key statistics concepts like mean, median, and standard deviation.
The Mean: This is the average. It's what you get if you share everything equally among everyone. For example, if three kids have 1, 2, and 6 apples, you add them up (1 + 2 + 6 = 9) and divide by 3 to get 3. So, the mean is 3 apples.
The Median: This is the middle value in a list. If you line up numbers from smallest to largest, the median is the one in the center. For instance, with amounts like $1, $2, $10, $20, and $100, the median is $10. It shows the middle point without being affected by very high or low numbers.
Standard Deviation: This measures how spread out the numbers are. It shows how much the numbers vary from the mean. For example, if two players both average 10 points per game, but one scores 9, 10, and 11 (consistent) and the other scores 0, 10, and 20 (inconsistent), the first player has a low standard deviation, while the second has a high one. To find standard deviation, calculate the mean, find the difference between each number and the mean, and then average those differences with some extra steps to keep numbers positive.
The Mean: This is the average. It's what you get if you share everything equally among everyone. For example, if three kids have 1, 2, and 6 apples, you add them up (1 + 2 + 6 = 9) and divide by 3 to get 3. So, the mean is 3 apples.
The Median: This is the middle value in a list. If you line up numbers from smallest to largest, the median is the one in the center. For instance, with amounts like $1, $2, $10, $20, and $100, the median is $10. It shows the middle point without being affected by very high or low numbers.
Standard Deviation: This measures how spread out the numbers are. It shows how much the numbers vary from the mean. For example, if two players both average 10 points per game, but one scores 9, 10, and 11 (consistent) and the other scores 0, 10, and 20 (inconsistent), the first player has a low standard deviation, while the second has a high one. To find standard deviation, calculate the mean, find the difference between each number and the mean, and then average those differences with some extra steps to keep numbers positive.
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
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Andrew’s Answer
The minimal prerequisite for an introductory statistics course is College Algebra. Hence, it is imperative that you complete Algebra I and Algebra II in high school, and complete College Algebra either in high school or college before tackling an introductory statistics course.
Mathematics is a foreign language for most of us. It is a symbolic and logical language. The best way to gain proficiency and competency in this language is through practice, practice, and practice as if it were another nature language. If you do not feel comfortable with your current level of math skills, you may want to go back to previous more basic materials to strengthen your foundation. Once you manage to attain a solid foundation, the learning of mathematics will get a lot easier.
Mathematics is a foreign language for most of us. It is a symbolic and logical language. The best way to gain proficiency and competency in this language is through practice, practice, and practice as if it were another nature language. If you do not feel comfortable with your current level of math skills, you may want to go back to previous more basic materials to strengthen your foundation. Once you manage to attain a solid foundation, the learning of mathematics will get a lot easier.