Course Description:

The topics for AP Statistics are divided into four major themes: exploratory analysis, planning a study, probability, and statistical inference.

Exploratory analysis of data makes use of graphical and numerical techniques to study patterns and departures from patterns. Characteristics, such as shape, location, variability, and unusual values will be explored. Data will be collected according to a well-developed plan. The plan will identify important variables related to the conjecture and specify how they are to be measured. From the data collection plan, a model will be formulated from which inferences can be drawn. Probability is the tool used for anticipating what the distribution of data should look like under a given model. Random phenomena are not haphazard; they display an order that emerges only in the long run and is described by a distribution. Statistical inference guides the selection of appropriate models. Models and data interact in statistical work; models are used to draw conclusions from data, while the data is allowed to criticize and even falsify the model through inferential and diagnostic methods. Inference from data will be thought of as the process of selecting a reasonable model, including a statement in probability language of how confident one can be about the selection. This course meets UC/CSU (Mathematics-c requirement)