TO THE STUDENT

1. When the semester is over, you’ll find that statistics wasn’t as hard as you feared. Learning statistics is like learning a foreign language—the concepts build on each other and require regular practice. The best way to practice is just like the best way to eat: Take small bites, chew thoroughly, and swallow thoughtfully. Work through the “Practice Problems” as they pop up. Make sure you can do them before moving on to new material.

2. The “Review Your Knowledge” exercises at the end of the chapter are just that, a review of the chapter. Do them when you’ve finished the chapter to make sure that you’re comfortable with all of the material in the chapter. Then, do them again before a test as a refresher.

3. The questions in the “Apply Your Knowledge” exercises at the end of the chapter have at least two questions on each topic. Each odd-numbered question is followed by an even-numbered question that asks the same thing. Answers for the odd-numbered questions appear in the back of the book. So if you struggle with an odd-numbered question, you can turn there for help. And then, with that guidance, you should be able to work through the even-numbered question on your own.

4. The book is divided into four parts. At the end of each, you’ll find a test that covers the techniques from all chapters in that part. Working these problems can be a great way to determine whether you have truly mastered the material.

5. One last thing: In each chapter, you’ll find a boxed feature called “DIY.” I’ve crafted these projects as a way for you to gain experience gathering data and conducting experiments. I encourage you to work the projects on your own, even if your teacher doesn’t assign them.