AP Statistics

Advanced Placement Statistics covering data analysis, probability, and statistical inference.

Advanced Topics

Statistical Inference: Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing

Making Conclusions from Data

Statistical inference lets us draw conclusions about populations from samples.

Confidence Intervals

A confidence interval gives a range of values likely to include the true population parameter. For example, a 95% confidence interval means we are 95% confident the true value is in that range.

Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis testing helps us decide if a result is significant or just due to chance. The process involves:

  1. Stating a null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) and alternative hypothesis (\(H_a\))
  2. Calculating a test statistic
  3. Deciding whether to reject \(H_0\) based on the evidence

Real-World Impact

Scientists, doctors, and businesses use inference to make critical decisions based on data.

Examples

  • A medical researcher tests if a new drug lowers blood pressure more than the standard treatment.

  • A poll estimates the percentage of voters who support a candidate within a margin of error.

In a Nutshell

Use statistics to estimate values and test ideas with confidence.

Statistical Inference: Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing - AP Statistics Content | Practice Hub