001. Preface

Our world grows in complexity. People often forced to make decisions on one or another problem in the presence of considerable uncertainty. Yet solutions to these problems are essential to our well-being and even our ultimate survival. We are also continually pressured by distressing economic problems such as raging inflation, a cumbersome tax system, and excessive swings in the business cycle. Our entire social and economic fabric is threatened by environmental pollution, a burdensome public debt, an ever-increasing crime rate, and unpredictable interest rates.

Statistics provides collection, processing and analysis of massive social and economic phenomena that characterize all aspects of life and activities of the population, shows the relationship of various aspects of the economy, studying the dynamics of development and effective management decision making at all levels.

The main goal of this text is to present basic concepts in elementary statistics as usually Statistics is a frightful subject for most students. The text is written for nonstatisticians and can be used by students in all disciplines. The "Chapter checklist" sections at the end of each chapter and the “Test your Knowledge” chapter at the end of text allow students to build confidence by working problems related to the relevant concepts. Examples are taken from a wide variety of disciplines that emphasize the concepts and are to the point.

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