= Statistics
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<Statistics> studies how to learn from data while accounting for variation and uncertainty. <Descriptive statistics> summarizes observations; <statistical inference> uses an explicit <statistical model> to estimate unknown quantities or assess claims. For example, the <sample mean> estimates a population <mean>, while its <standard error> describes variation across hypothetical repeated <statistical samples>. A large dataset does not automatically remove bias from <statistical sampling> or <confounding>. The design generating the observations is part of the reasoning, rather than an optional prelude to calculating a formula.
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