Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (2nd Edition) [Hardcover]

Ron Larson (Author), Elizabeth Farber (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130655953 | ISBN-13: 978-0130655950 | Publication Date: March 14, 2002 | Edition: 2

Written for successful study, every aspect of Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World has been carefully crafted to help readers learn statistics. Chapter topics cover an introduction to statistics, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete probability distributions, normal probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing with one sample, hypothesis testing with two-samples, correlation and regression, chi-square tests and the F-distribution, and nonparametric tests. For individuals who want to learn statistics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Written for successful study, every aspect of Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World has been carefully crafted to help readers learn statistics. Chapter topics cover an introduction to statistics, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete probability distributions, normal probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing with one sample, hypothesis testing with two-samples, correlation and regression, chi-square tests and the F-distribution, and nonparametric tests. For individuals who want to learn statistics.

About the Author

Ron Larson received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1970. At that time he accepted a position with Penn State University, and he currently holds the rank of professor of mathematics at the university. Larson is the lead author of more than two dozen mathematics textbooks that range from sixth grade through calculus levels. Many of his texts, such as the seventh edition of his calculus text, are leaders in their markets. Larson is also one of the pioneers in the use of multimedia and the Internet to enhance the learning of mathematics. He has authored multimedia programs, extending from the elementary school through calculus levels. Larson is a member of several professional groups and is a frequent speaker at national and regional mathematics meetings.

Betsy Farber received her Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Penn State University and Master's degree in mathematics from the College of New Jersey. Since 1976, she has been teaching all levels of mathematics at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania, where she currently holds the rank of professor. She is particularly interested in developing new ways to make statistics relevant and interesting to her students, and has been teaching statistics in many different modes—with TI-83, with MINITAB, and by distance learning as well as in the traditional classroom. A member of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), she is an author of The Student Edition to MINITAB and A Guide to MINITAB. She served as consulting editor for Statistics, A First Course and has written computer tutorials for the CD-ROM correlating to the texts in the Streeter Series in mathematics.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 704 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (March 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130655953
• ISBN-13: 978-0130655950
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #822,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A terrible...book., April 23, 2002

By 

S. Wachi "swachi" (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (Hardcover)

I have been forced to purchase the second edition of this book, which is similar to the first edition, but with CD rom for the data set instead of diskettes in the first edition. Also, the numbering for the problem sets have been altered, probably to make more money by making the first book obsolete.

The only reason I had to buy the book was to do the problem set. The book itself has terrible organization as a reference, where a few crutial concepts are discussed briefly, in a overwhelming mixture of examples and practice problems. Perhaps this is all well if you are trying to read the text from cover to cover, but unfortunately that won't help student learn any faster if they have to mull over unimportant details outside of the lecture.

Edward Tufte will have a field day with the barrage of unnecessary use of color and unprofessional (confusing) layout of the charts, tables and graphs (what he calls "the ducks"). The conventions used in the books are used inconsistently, and *every* page has at least three colors, which drives up the printing cost for no good reason other than profit. Furthermore, it is printed on glossy paper, where it's glare will strain the eyes and it is hard to mark with pencil. I will preach against using glossy paper for texts until someone listens!

Fortunately, the book calms down after the absolutely terrible first three chapters, but it still manages to waste pages and pages on useless information (to most) such as step-by-step instruction on how to use a TI-83 calculator - each time I open a page filled with screen shot of applications that I will never touch, I feel insulted and ripped off. Why not use the CD for these screenshots?? Doesn't TI-83 come with a user's manual???

I understand that the book strives to be a tutorial, augmenting what a poorly trained instructor may miss during a lecture, but it also tries to be a textbook which supplements a lecture. Unfortunately, the two concepts do not mix well together in a book. This is a worthless book after the lecture, and I do not intend to keep it for reference.

I have "inherited" DeVore & Peck's "Statistics: Exploration and Analysis of Data" - and found that to be more informative and engaging introduction to statistics and probability.

It is sad to hear that Larson & Farber is a popular book - it makes me shudder to think of all the high-school students out there learning the horrible examples of presentation of data. I hope that these authors will realize that insulting the readers' intelligence by diluting the content will only alienate them. I hope they fix their ways.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Elementary Statistics by Larson et al., February 17, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

This work is geared for the above average arts or business
student. It has a good coverage of the various probability
density functions and hypothesis testing and evaluation. A typical chapter has important definitions set forth, a "Try
It Yourself" problem set, notes to the instructor, numerous
exercises and an exhaustive summary. In chapter 1, the four levels of measurement are depicted. i.e. Nominal, Ordinal,
Interval and Ratio . The author provides a simple experimental
design consisting of identifying variables, developing a
detailed plan for collecting data, actual data collection,
descriptive statistics techniques and inferential statistics.

This book could be covered in one semester with the following
organization:
Data Collection Chapter 1
Scales, frequency Chapter 2
Probability Chapter 3
Distributions Chapter 4
Normal Distribution Chapter 5
Confidence Intervals Chapter 6
Hypothesis Testing Chapter 7
Correlation/Regression Chapter 9

Moving Averages

Chi Square Chapter 10

Theory of Expected Value

General Review and Finals

The appendix of the work contains an excellent presentation
on how to find areas under the standard normal curve. Overall,
the work presents a very ambitious agenda aimed at the
above-average collegiate student. The book could be supplemented
with the Schaum's Outline in Statistics. Students may utilize
a statistical calculator to assist with the work of the course.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Confusing!, August 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

I had to purchase this book for an online stats course - BIG mistake! The organization of the book is so incredibly confusing, and the "expanding the basics" problems are not illustrated in the chapter, nor do they have answers with which to check your answers. I have taken other reasoning courses (in class and online) and they were organized much better, with relevant examples that explained every step -- perfect for anyone who is basically trying to teach him/herself! I hope mathematics teachers nationwide realize how difficult this text is for students to follow. Consider another text!