Statistics

Statistics is the study of numbers that tell us about things. People collect facts, called data, and then look at them. Statistics helps us find patterns and answer questions. Sports teams, schools, and scientists all use statistics. It turns lots of numbers into useful information.

Collecting Data

Data is information, often in the form of numbers. You might ask your friends what their favorite color is. Writing down their answers gives you data. Then you can count how many picked each color. This is how a simple survey works.

Finding the Average

One important idea in statistics is the average, or mean. To find it, you add up all the numbers and divide by how many there are. If three kids have 2, 4, and 6 books, the average is 4. Averages help us understand a group as a whole. Statistics also uses charts and graphs to show data.

Fun Facts

• Baseball fans use statistics to see which players are the best.
• The word statistics comes from a Latin word meaning 'state' or 'government'.
• Statistics helps doctors find out if medicines work.

Did You Know?

The first modern census, a big count of people, happened in the United States in 1790.