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Statistics Foundations

Understanding Probability and Distributions

We live in a world of big data, and someone needs to make sense of all this data. In this course, you will learn to efficiently analyze data, formulate hypotheses, and generally reason about what the ocean of data out there is telling you.

We live in a world of big data: huge amounts of data generated by social networks, governments, consumers and markets. Someone needs to make sense of all this data. In this course, Statistics Foundations: Understanding Probability and Distributions, you will learn the fundamental topics essential for understanding probability and statistics. First, you will have an introduction to set theory, a non-rigorous introduction to probability, an overview of key terms and concepts of statistical research. Then, you will discover different statistical distributions, discrete and continuous random variables, probability density functions, and moment generating functions. Finally, you will use key distribution measures such as mean and variance, and explore topics of covariance and correlation. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to look at data and reason about it in terms of its descriptive statistics and possible distributions.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Introducing the Concept of Probability

Calculating the Conditional Probability of Events

Understanding Random Variables and Distributions

Introducing the Concept of Expectation

Looking at Some Special Statistical Distributions

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches fundamentals of probability and statistics, which are necessary for many fields

Designed for beginners, building a good foundation for understanding statistics and data analysis

Provides an introduction to key concepts in statistics, such as probability, distributions, and statistical measures

May help students develop skills in data analysis and reasoning, which are valuable in various industries

Taught by Dmitri Nesteruk, who has experience in the field of statistics

Covers only the foundational concepts of statistics and probability, and may not be sufficient for students seeking advanced knowledge

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Statistics Foundations: Understanding Probability and Distributions with these activities:

Review algebra

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Brush up on the basics of algebra, which is important for understanding statistical equations and formulas.

Browse courses on Algebra

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Go over your algebra notes from previous courses.
Re-familiarize yourself with solving linear equations.
Practice simplifying algebraic expressions.

Introduction to Probability by Joseph K. Blitzstein and Jessica Hwang

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Read this foundational textbook to supplement your understanding of probability theory.

View Introduction to Probability, Second Edition on Amazon

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Read through each chapter thoroughly.
Take notes on key concepts and formulas.
Work through the practice problems at the end of each chapter.

Probability problem sets

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Complete problem sets to reinforce your understanding of probability concepts.

Browse courses on Probability

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Work through the problems step-by-step.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.
Revisit problems you struggled with until you fully understand them.

Five other activities

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Probability cheat sheet

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Create a cheat sheet summarizing key probability formulas and concepts.

Browse courses on Probability

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Compile a list of important probability formulas and concepts.
Organize the information in a clear and concise manner.
Use colors, diagrams, or other visuals to make the cheat sheet visually appealing and easy to understand.

Distribution visualization tutorials

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Watch tutorials that demonstrate how to visualize different types of statistical distributions.

Browse courses on Statistical Distributions

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Search for tutorials on distribution visualization.
Choose tutorials that cover the distributions you are learning in class.
Follow the instructions in the tutorials to create visualizations.

Study group discussions

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Join a study group to discuss course material with peers.

Browse courses on Probability

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Find or form a study group with other students in the course.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Work together to solve problems and clarify concepts.

Data analysis project

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Conduct a data analysis project to apply the statistical concepts you have learned.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Identify a dataset that is relevant to your interests.
Clean and explore the data.
Perform statistical analysis on the data.
Interpret the results and draw conclusions.
Present your findings in a report or presentation.

Statistical modeling project

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Develop a statistical model to solve a real-world problem.

Browse courses on Statistical Modeling

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Identify a problem that can be solved using statistical modeling.
Gather data and preprocess it.
Choose and train a statistical model.
Evaluate the performance of the model.
Deploy the model and monitor its performance.

Career center

Learners who complete Statistics Foundations: Understanding Probability and Distributions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer is responsible for developing and deploying machine learning models to solve real-world problems. This course provides a strong foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential for Machine Learning Engineers. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and developing machine learning models. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a career as a Machine Learning Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential skills for Data Analysts. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing data. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a career as a Data Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential for Data Scientists. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing data. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a career as a Data Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Quantitative Analyst

A Quantitative Analyst is responsible for developing and using mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial data. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential for Quantitative Analysts. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing financial data. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a career as a Quantitative Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Statistician

A Statistician is responsible for designing and conducting statistical studies to collect and analyze data. This course provides a strong foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential for Statisticians. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing data. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a career as a Statistician.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst is responsible for analyzing financial data to make investment recommendations. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Financial Analysts to better understand and analyze financial data, and to make more informed investment recommendations. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing financial data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business data to identify opportunities for improvement. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Business Analysts to better understand and analyze data, and to make more informed recommendations. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing business data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. While a background in probability and statistics is not always required for Software Engineers, it can be helpful for those who are interested in developing data-driven applications. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Software Engineers to better understand and analyze data, and to develop more effective software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Actuary

An Actuary is responsible for assessing and managing risk. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which are essential for Actuaries. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and managing risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Market Researcher

A Market Researcher is responsible for conducting market research to identify customer needs and preferences. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Market Researchers to better understand and analyze data, and to make more informed recommendations. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing market research data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Risk Manager

A Risk Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing risk. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Risk Managers to better understand and analyze risk. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and managing risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Data Journalist

A Data Journalist is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to create data-driven journalism. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Data Journalists to better understand and analyze data, and to create more informative and engaging data-driven journalism. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Journalist

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst is responsible for using mathematical and statistical models to solve business problems. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Operations Research Analysts to better understand and analyze data, and to develop more effective solutions to business problems. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and analyzing data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Underwriter

An Underwriter is responsible for assessing and managing risk. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Underwriters to better understand and analyze risk. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding and managing risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Underwriter

Teacher

A Teacher is responsible for educating students. While a background in probability and statistics is not always required for Teachers, it can be helpful for those who are interested in teaching math or science. This course provides a solid foundation in probability and statistics, which can help Teachers to better understand and teach these subjects. The course covers topics such as probability distributions, random variables, and statistical inference, which are all important for understanding probability and statistics.

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Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Statistics Foundations: Understanding Probability and Distributions.

Probability and Statistics for Engineers and...

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This well-known and used textbook is suitable for the course. The 9th edition's chapters align well with the course's syllabus and objectives. It is readable and appropriate for undergraduate students and general readers.

Statistics Foundations

Understanding Probability and Distributions

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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