Mathematics / Statistics Filter: I have some pairs of numbers that are the result of a process. Given just that data set, and a rule that relates them, can you determine the integer values that could have resulted in those sets? [more inside]
posted by intermod on Dec 23, 2009 - 20 answers

Stats-filter: Given a binary matrix, if I know the total number of ones in a given row and a given column, can I calculate the probability that a given position contains a one? [more inside]
posted by chrisamiller on Dec 16, 2009 - 24 answers

I need to ruin everyone's fun by adding a rigorous mathematical scoring system to the company bake-off. Li'l help? [more inside]
posted by sonofslim on Dec 15, 2009 - 17 answers

Hi, I have a specific question about paired t-tests! [more inside]
posted by amethysts on Nov 13, 2009 - 13 answers

StatisticAnalysisFilter: I took (pretty close to) scientific observations of the general populace in a neighborhood for a few months (personal project, long story). I measured the number of people who had trait X (or did not have trait X) in two locations, A and B. Now, I want to test the statistical significance of these results. Is the chi-square test sufficient for this? Or is there a better option? [more inside]
posted by MoreForMad on Oct 11, 2009 - 7 answers

What are some simple experiments that help explain complicated phenomena? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Jul 6, 2009 - 15 answers

Looking for resources regarding math in sports. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Mar 17, 2009 - 12 answers

Can someone explain why despite the fact that every one of these incidents occurs at a unique time and place, each involves a complex history of events and personal decisions leading to its very unlikely outcome, that the death toll on the roads year-on-year is so predictable? See here and here. [more inside]
posted by zaebiz on Dec 28, 2008 - 47 answers

Am I distorting my data, and not showing the true picture? [more inside]
posted by matholio on Nov 18, 2008 - 9 answers

I've recorded my weight and the number of calories I've eaten each day for the past 6 months. I want to use to data to figure out the maximum number of calories I can eat each day without gaining weight. Any ideas on how to do this with statistics? [more inside]
posted by GregX3 on Nov 9, 2008 - 13 answers

Maximizing a function over orthogonal matrices, or: solving polynomial order 2 systems. Help me out or point me to a better forum / listhost. [more inside]
posted by a robot made out of meat on Oct 26, 2008 - 15 answers

A statistics question about dependent normal random variables. [more inside]
posted by PercussivePaul on Sep 14, 2008 - 9 answers

Does the fact that the betting markets still give Hillary Clinton a 1 in 55 chance of being President in 2008, mean that that is a reasonable estimate of the chance that Obama is assassinated before the election? What else could justify those odds now?
posted by zaebiz on Sep 1, 2008 - 14 answers

It's late, I'm tired, and I have a probability and coding question that's fairly simple. [more inside]
posted by chrisamiller on Aug 13, 2008 - 10 answers

How can I get back in touch with my quantitative skills? [more inside]
posted by EnormousTalkingOnion on Jul 28, 2008 - 7 answers

Can you recommend a statistics book which is appropriate for the stats required for basic bioscience / clinical research? [more inside]
posted by inbetweener on Jul 19, 2008 - 7 answers

Can one perform Pearson's correlation or a variant with unequal numbers of rows? [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on May 1, 2008 - 7 answers

Is it possible to estimate the standard deviation of an investment's return after "y" years, if you know the investment's mean annual return and standard deviation? [more inside]
posted by stuehler on Mar 25, 2008 - 14 answers

Statistics-filter: I need to establish to what extent student performance on a particular standardized test is predicted by each of the following: GPA, standardized test scores and a couple of other miscellaneous numerical factors. How do I go about this? [more inside]
posted by perissodactyl on Mar 6, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm taking statistics math this semester, and I'm wondering if there be any geeky statistics math-related podcasts that will help me wrap my head around this tricky subject matter (and maybe even enjoy it). [more inside]
posted by survivorman on Jan 26, 2008 - 9 answers

Please settle an ill-informed bar argument re. Russian Roulette. [more inside]
posted by macrowave on Jan 3, 2008 - 25 answers

Statistics question: How can I calculate the odds of flipping a coin to get x consecutive heads anywhere within a data set of y flips. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by rocket88 on Jan 3, 2008 - 19 answers

I need a tool to help me analyze the probability of certain events occurring regarding a pool of X dice for a game I am creating. See my examples below. [more inside]
posted by DetonatedManiac on Dec 21, 2007 - 7 answers

Given a fair die with s sides, what is the expected number of rolls r before I get o outcomes with the same value v in a row? [Note this is emphatically NOT a homework problem; I just really want to know, feel like I should be able to figure it out, can't, and it is driving me nuts.] [more inside]
posted by lucasks on Dec 19, 2007 - 30 answers

What is the TERM for the three-decimal place, fraction-of-one "percentage" format used in baseball statistics? [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Nov 20, 2007 - 15 answers

Details of the German tank counting method (as seen on reddit)? [more inside]
posted by tehgeekmeister on Sep 19, 2007 - 13 answers

Does anyone have any data for human error while operating a timing device? Litigeous details and much [more inside]
posted by jmugrapler on Aug 3, 2007 - 31 answers

Statistics/Lottery question; Please settle this argument between a friend and I about the Florida state lotto. [more inside]
posted by boyinmiami on Aug 2, 2007 - 26 answers

I'm looking for books on survey design and statistical analysis. [more inside]
posted by crazycanuck on Jul 31, 2007 - 4 answers

StatisticsFilter: Can someone explain - with examples - why R^2 (r-square) values are not appropriate for use with non-linear regression models. [more inside]
posted by jonesor on Jun 21, 2007 - 5 answers

i've been looking at reviews on amazon for introductory stat textbooks, and i can't seem to find a single one that doesn't have blatantly contradictory reviews. [more inside]
posted by tehgeekmeister on Apr 2, 2007 - 8 answers

How do I determine whether the difference between two or more proportions is significant? [more inside]
posted by lunasol on Mar 16, 2007 - 7 answers

Mathematicians, I've always suspected there is a real opportunity to exploit the inefficiencies of the online sports betting markets and amateur bettors and make serious money. Have you felt the same way or am I kidding myself? [more inside]
posted by vizsla on Dec 17, 2006 - 7 answers

How do I calculate the mean of a frequency distribution on an HP 48SX calculator? [more inside]
posted by DakotaPaul on Sep 27, 2006 - 6 answers

What is Multivariable Testing, really? It was mentioned in this NYTimes article, but the term is only ever used in relation to QualPro, Inc.. What is the real mathematical/statistical technique they're using? Is this related to the Taguchi Method? Can someone explain it to me?
posted by joshwa on Sep 19, 2006 - 5 answers

I need a little help figuring out the odds of a baseball pool scenario actually occurring. (And correctly constructing this question, it looks like). [more inside]
posted by nevercalm on Sep 7, 2006 - 18 answers

Mrs. Everichon is convinced that there is a law or principle (as in "Foo's Law") which describes the phenomenon wherein a pond can take weeks to become 50% covered in algae, but then the remaining 50% takes only a day. [more inside]
posted by everichon on Jul 25, 2006 - 9 answers

How do I process user ratings of content without skewing results of items that have only been rated once? [more inside]
posted by Orkboi on Jul 10, 2006 - 19 answers

Besides the Monty Hall paradox, what are some other counterintuitive math problems that require a bit of a mind warp? [more inside]
posted by arcticwoman on Mar 21, 2006 - 89 answers

Question about semi-sophisticated statistics and financial modeling - lets say you have N asset classes - each class has a mean rate of return and a standard deviation of returns. Also, assume you hold a portfolio comprised entirely of these N asset-classes, in certain proportions. How do you determine the probability that the portfolio might produce the a certain rate of return over P periods?
posted by stuehler on Mar 2, 2006 - 9 answers

How do I interpret the statistical results of an ESP test? At this ESP testing site there's a tabulation of the daily results of people from across the world attempting to guess which of 5 cards is a target card. In the results for 12/20/2005 the top scorer had 13 hits in 25 trials for a hit rate of 52%, random chance would be 0.20. Now the website says the odds against this are 2708 to 1. First question: is this correct? Second question: if it is correct, then how weird is this statistically speaking given that there were a total of 19,886 trials by 189 users. [more inside]
posted by storybored on Dec 21, 2005 - 22 answers

Basic statistics: given P possible outcomes, how many different P's are chosen on average when N choices are made? [more inside]
posted by DaShiv on Dec 11, 2005 - 23 answers

Probability: A coworker is having an issue with deriving a few formulas for a Weibull distribution. Any pointers? [more inside]
posted by TommyH on Nov 7, 2005 - 2 answers

My boss' boyfriend does human factor engineering for a pharmaceutical company. They're performing an experiment and his boss has given him a number for a sample size that the boyfriend thinks is too low. He has to be able to justify to his boyfriend that this number is too low within the next 40 minutes. I can't remember anything about statistics but I know there's a way to figure this out. (More inside!) [more inside]
posted by tozturk on Jun 17, 2005 - 9 answers

Remedial weighted averages for the mathematically illiterate – or, can the 10% of you who understand math help the remaining 95% of us who don't? [mi]. [more inside]
posted by RavinDave on Jul 11, 2004 - 3 answers