Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Probability Symbols and Statistics Symbols

Reviewed by:
ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon
SearchIcon

Probability Symbols and Statistics Symbols - Definition with Example



Definition with Example

Probability deals with predicting the likelihood of an event. Many events cannot be predicted with total certainty, so the best we can say is how likely they are to happen, using the idea of probability. Probability is primarily a branch of mathematics, which studies the consequences of mathematical definitions and real-life entities. The probability of an event is expressed as a number 0 and 1, 0 indicates the impossibility and 1 indicates the certainty of an event. The higher the probability shows that the more likely it is that the event will occur. A simple example is the tossing of an unbiased coin. Since the coin is unbiased, there are two probable outcomes, either its heads or tails; the probability of “heads” is equal to the probability of “tails”; there are no other outcomes that are possible, assuming the coin lands flat. So the probability of either “heads” or “tails” is ½ or 0.5 or 50%. An event having the probability of 0.5 is considered to have equal odds of occurring and no occurring. The probability that the coin will land without either side facing up is 0 because either "heads" or "tails" must be facing up.

Calculating probabilities in a situation like a coin toss is upfront because the outcome of the coin lands without either of the sides facing up is 0. Each coin toss is an independent event; the outcome of one trial does not affect the following ones. No matter how many times one side lands facing up, the probability that it will do so at the next toss is always 0.5 (50%). The mistaken idea that several consecutive results (seven "heads" for example) make it more likely that the next toss will result in a "tails" is known as the gambler's fallacy, one that has led to the downfall of many a bettor’s.


Probability theory had its start in the 17th century, when two French mathematicians, Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat carried on a correspondence discussing mathematical problems dealing with the games of chance. The modern applications of probability theory run on the extent of human inquiry and include aspects of computer programming, astrophysics, music, weather prediction, risk management, market assessment, entitlement analysis, environmental regulation, and financial regulation and medicine.

To measure probabilities, mathematicians devised the following formula to find the probability of an event: 

Probability of an Event Happening

P(A)=Total Number of Ways Event"A" Can OccurTotal Number of Possible Outcomes

Or in another way in its simplest form, probability can be expressed as the total number of occurrences of a targeted event divided by the total number of occurrences plus the total number of failures (this adds up to the total of possible outcomes):

P(A) = P(a)/P(a)+P(b)

Statistics

Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis for a given set of data or real-life studies that uses quantified models, representations and synopses to reach the results. Statistics studies methodologies to gather, review, analyze and draw conclusions from the experimental dataset. Some statistical measures include several, mode, median, regression analysis, skewness, kurtosis, variance, and analysis of variance.

Probability and Statistics

Probability is the probability of anything happening — how likely an occurrence is to occur. The study of data, including how to collect, summarise, and present information, is known as statistics. Probability and statistics are two academic subjects that are related but not identical. Probability distributions are frequently used in statistical analysis, and the two disciplines are frequently studied together.

Relational Symbols

Mathematical relations are represented by relational symbols, which express a connection between two or more mathematical objects or concepts.

Understanding Statistics

Statistics is a term used to summarize a process that is used to characterize a data set. If the data set depends on a sample of a larger population, then one can develop interpretations about the population primarily based on the statistical outcome from the samples. Statistical analysis involves the process of gathering, reviewing, evaluating data and then summarizing the data into a mathematical form or statistical outcome.


More generally statistical methods are used to analyze large volumes of data and their properties.

Statistics is used in various disciplines such as psychology, business, social sciences, humanities, government, medical and manufacturing. Statistical data is gathered using a sample procedure. There are two types of statistical methods that are used in analyzing data: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics are used to summarize data from a sample exercising the mean or standard deviation. Inferential statistics are used when data is considered as a subclass of a specific population.

Types of Statistics

Statistics is a general, broad term, so it is natural that inside that umbrella there exist a number of different models.

Mean: A mean is the mathematical average of a group of two or more numbers. The mean for a specified set of numbers can be computed in multiple ways, including the arithmetic mean, which shows how well a specific commodity performs over time, and the geometric mean, which shows the performance results of an investor’s share invested in that same commodity over the same period.

Regression Analysis: Regression analysis determines the point to which specific factors such as interest rates, the price of a product or services, or particular industries influence the price variations of an asset. This is portrayed in the form of a straight line called a linear regression line.

Skewness: The degree of a set of experimental data in which the data varies from the standard distribution is known as skewness. In the case of most of the data sets, like stock prices and commodity returns, the data sets have either positive skew, a curve slanted toward the left of the data average, or negative skew, a curve slanted toward the right of the data average.

Kurtosis: Kurtosis measures whether the experimental data is light-tailed (less outlier-prone) or heavy-tailed (more outlier-prone) than the normal distribution. Data sets with high kurtosis have heavy tails, or outliers, which implies greater investment risk in the form of occasional wild returns. Data sets with low kurtosis have light tails, or lack of outliers, which implies lesser investment risk.

Variance: The measurement of the span between the numbers in a data set is called Variance. The variance measures the distance of every number in the data set through its mean. Variance can help to determine the risk an investor might accept when buying an investment plan.

FAQs on Probability Symbols and Statistics Symbols

1. What are some of the types of statistics?

Some of the types of statistics are: 

Regression Analysis: Regression analysis identifies the point at which certain factors such as interest rates, product or service prices, or specific industries influence an asset's price changes. This is represented by a linear regression line, which is a straight line.


Mean: The mathematical average of two or more numbers is called a mean. The arithmetic means, which displays how well a certain commodity performs over time, and the geometric mean, which shows the performance results of an investor's share invested in that same commodity over the same period, are two approaches to compute the mean for a given set of values. To get more information, visit Vedantu.

2. What is the meaning of skewness in probability?

From probability’s standpoint, the meaning of skewness is:

Skewness: The degree to which a collection of experimental data deviates from the conventional distribution is referred to as skewness. Most data sets, such as stock prices and commodity returns, exhibit positive skew, which is a curve slanted to the left of the data average, or negative skew, which is a curve slanted to the right of the data average. To get access to free study materials and garner more knowledge, kindly visit the Vedantu app and website.

3. What is the meaning of Kurtosis and Variance?

The meaning of kurtosis and variance is:

Kurtosis: Kurtosis is a metric that determines whether experimental data is light-tailed or heavy-tailed than the normal distribution. Heavy tails, or outliers, are present in data sets with a high kurtosis, implying increased investment risk in the form of occasional wild returns. Low kurtosis data sets contain light tails, or no outliers, indicating lower investment risk.


Variance: Variance is the measurement of the distance between the numbers in a data collection. The variance is a measurement of how far each number in the data collection is from its mean. Variance can aid in determining the level of risk an investor is willing to take when purchasing an investment plan.

4. What is the definition of probability?

Probability is a metric for determining the possibility of an event occurring. Many things are impossible to forecast with 100% accuracy. Using it, we can only anticipate the probability of an event occurring, i.e. how probable it is to occur. Probability can range from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating an improbable event and 1 indicating a certain event. All of the events in a sample space have the same probability.


When we toss a coin, for example, we can obtain either Head OR Tail; there are only two possible outcomes. If we toss two coins in the air, there are three possible outcomes: both coins will show heads, both will show tails, or one will show heads and one will show tails.

5. What is probability theory?

The Book on Games of Chance, written by J. Cardan, an Italian mathematician and physician, was the first work on the subject, and it was published in the 16th century. Knowledge of probability has attracted the attention of outstanding mathematicians from its inception. As a result, probability theory is an area of mathematics concerned with the possibility of occurrences occurring. Although there are many different interpretations of probability, probability theory expresses the idea clearly through a series of axioms or hypotheses. These assumptions aid in the formation of probability in terms of a possibility space, which allows for a measure with values ranging from 0 to 1. To a collection of probable outcomes in the sample space, this is known as the probability measure. Kindly visit the Vedantu app and website for free study materials.