2

I am learning how to construct proofs. I always wondered why stats is considered "different" to math? I know that it is an open-ended question.

jameselmore
  • 5,207
Johnathan
  • 519
  • Why are people marking me down? Why is this question considered "bad"? – Johnathan Feb 27 '15 at 00:58
  • 1
    I like your question because I wonder the same thing. As per the downvotes, maybe you could edit the tags? Replace the "stats" tag with "soft question" one? Don't sweat it, though, people here downvote because they can. – Max Feb 27 '15 at 01:01
  • 1
    Maybe we should say that statistics is an application of mathematics. – GEdgar Feb 27 '15 at 01:02
  • Maybe because statistic use scientific method to work if not would be probability theory. This fact makes Pure mathematicians see statistic with contempt, stupid contempt in my opinion. – Pablo Herrera Feb 27 '15 at 01:06
  • 2
    What does learning how to construct proofs have to do with the difference between Statistics and Mathematics? – Robert Israel Feb 27 '15 at 01:53
  • @RobertIsrael Sorry for the confusion. So, while I'm learning how to build proofs, I'm also studying math and stats. My problem is: I can prove stat and math theorems without understanding the difference in nature between the 2. – Johnathan Feb 27 '15 at 02:36

3 Answers3

2

I've always thought that statistics is part of mathematics.

Esteemator
  • 1,192
1

There are two primary aspects of statistics. The first is the development of statistical theory and statistical tests. While not all properties of these statistical tests are always rigorously proven, this first aspect still fundamentally remains in the realm of mathematics.

The second aspect is the choice of which statistical tests are appropriate for achieving certain objectives. This is truly a science and cannot come from purely mathematical thinking. Methods are often employed because they empirically give good results, or because they align with certain intuition that the user intends to follow. Real-life systems are given mathematical models before statistics can be applied, models that are often not clear-cut.

Christopher A. Wong
  • 22,445
  • 3
  • 51
  • 82
0

If you feel mathematics and statistics are different, you should check out Mathematical Statistics. I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.

Interestingly, wikipedia defines Mathematical Statistics as the 'application of mathematics to statistics'. So I guess your question isn't completely unwarranted (as some of the down-voters may be implying).

It's worth noting that a 'statistic' itself is a function of a realized random variate to the real number line. Because of this, I suppose you can have a 'statistic' in the rawest sense of the term. But it's the mathematical study of these 'statistics' that allow you to use them effectively.

It's no surprise that the study of these objects lends to the name of the field itself.

jameselmore
  • 5,207