WHAT IS STATISTICS?

American Heritage Dictionary® defines statistics as:

 "The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by inference from sampling."

The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary® definition is:

 "A branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data."

The steps of statistical analysis involve collecting information, evaluating it, and drawing conclusions. The information might be:

       A test group's favorite amount of sweetness in a blend of fruit juices

       The number of men and women hired by a city government

       The velocity of a burning gas on the sun's surface