AP Statistics · Summary

Unit 1 summary

  1. A variable is quantitative only if arithmetic on its values makes sense; number labels such as zip codes are categorical.
  2. Describe a distribution by shape, center, variability and unusual features, all in context, with numbers for center, variability and any unusual values.
  3. In a skewed distribution or one with outliers, use the median and IQR, which are resistant; the mean is pulled toward the tail.
  4. A value is an outlier if it lies more than 1.5 IQRs below Q1 or above Q3; show the fence arithmetic.
  5. Adding a constant shifts the center but not the spread; multiplying by a positive constant scales both.
  6. Random sampling supports generalizing to the population; a bigger sample does not fix bias.
  7. Random assignment in an experiment supports a cause-and-effect conclusion; observational studies can show only an association.