Statistical Symbols

Statistical Symbols

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Alphabetical Statistical Symbols

Symbol	Text Equivalent	Meaning	Formula	Link to Glossary (if appropriate)
a		Y- intercept of least square regression line	, for line	Regression: y on x
b		Slope of least squares regression line	for line	Regression: y on x
	Binomial distribution with parameters n and p	Discrete probability distribution for the probability of number of successes in n independent random trials under the identical conditions.	If X follows then, , Where, , r = 0,1,2, …….,n,	Binomial Distribution
c		Confidence level		Confidence interval
nCr	n-c-r	Combinations (number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time)	, where
	n-c-r	Combinations (number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time)	, where
	Covariance between X and Y	Covariance between X & Y
CV		Coefficient of variation
df		Degree(s) of freedom
E		Maximal error tolerance	for large samples
E (f(x))	Expected value of f(x)
f		Frequency	number of times score.
F		F-distribution variable	where n1 and n2 are the corresponding degrees of freedom.	F-distribution, Hypothesis testing for equality of 2 variances.
or		Distribution function	.
f(x) or		Probability mass function	Depends on the distribution.
H0	H-naught	Null hypothesis	The null hypothesis is the hypothesis about the population parameter.	Testing of hypothesis
H1	H-one	Alternate hypothesis	An alternate hypothesis is constructed in such a way that it is the one to be accepted when the null hypothesis must be rejected.	Testing of hypothesis
IQR		Interquartile range		Measures of central tendency.
MS	M-S	Mean square		Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
n		Sample size.	number of units in a sample.
N		Population size	Number of units in the population.
	n-p-r	Permutation (number of ways to arrange in order n distinct objects taking them r at a time)	where
	n-p-r	Permutation (number of ways to arrange in order n distinct objects taking them r at a time)	, where
	p-hat	Sample proportion		Binomial distribution
	Probability of A given B	Conditional probability
	Probability of x	Probability of x
p-value		The attained level of significance.	P value is the smallest level of significance for which the observed sample statistic tells us to reject the null hypothesis.
Q		Probability of not happening of the event
Q1	Q-one	First quartile	Median of the lower half of the data that is data below median.	Measures of central tendency
Q2	Q-two	Second quartile Or Median	Central value of an ordered data.	Measures of central tendency
Q3	Q-three	Third quartile	Median of the upper half of the data that is data above the median.	Measures of central tendency
R		Sample Correlation coefficient
r2	r-square	Coefficient of determination
R2	r-square	Multiple correlation coefficient
S		Sample standard deviation	for ungrouped data. for grouped data.	Measures of dispersion
S2	S-square	Sample variance	for ungrouped data. for grouped data.	Measures of dispersion
	s-e- square	Error variance
SD		Sample Standard deviation	for ungrouped data. for grouped data.
		Bowley’s coefficient of skewness		Measures of skew ness
		Pearson’s coefficient of skewness		Measures of skew ness
		Sum of squares	for ungrouped data for grouped data
t		Student’s t variable		t-distribution
tc	t critical	The critical value for a confidence level c.	Number such that the area under the t distribution for a given number of degrees of freedom falling between and is equal to c.	Testing of hypothesis
Var(X)	Variance of X	Variance of X
X		Independent variable or explanatory variable in regression analysis	Eg. In the study of, yield obtained & the irrigation level, independent variable is, Irrigation level.
	x-bar	Arithmetic mean or Average of X scores.	for ungrouped data. for grouped data	Measures of central tendency
y		Dependent variable or response variable in regression analysis	Eg. In the study of, yield obtained & the irrigation level, dependent variable is, Yield obtained.
Z	Z-score	Standard normal variable (Normal variable with mean = 0 & SD = 1)	, where X follows Normal .	Standard normal distribution
	z critical	The critical value for a confidence level c.	Number such that the area under the standard normal curve falling between and is equal to c.	Testing of hypothesis Confidence interval