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18.05 | Spring 2014 | Undergraduate

# Introduction to Probability and Statistics

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Alt text:
An instructor balances a ruler with weights on his finger, as students look on.
Caption:
In the demonstration pictured here, we illustrated the concepts of mean and variance by drawing a physics analogy with center of mass and moment of inertia. The prop is a wooden ruler with heavy boxes of paper clips secured by rubber bands. The mean corresponds to the balance point, located twice as close to the end with twice the mass. The variance corresponds to the energy needed to spin the ruler at a certain rate, and this energy is higher when the weights are farther out from the balance point.
Credit:
Image courtesy of OCW.

## Course Info

##### Instructors

- Dr. Jeremy Orloff
- Jonathan Bloom

##### Departments

- Mathematics

##### As Taught In

Spring 2014

##### Level

Undergraduate

##### Topics

- Mathematics
  - Discrete Mathematics
  - Probability and Statistics

##### Learning Resource Types

assignment_turned_in Problem Sets with Solutions
grading Exams with Solutions
notes Lecture Notes
co_present Instructor Insights
theaters Other Video

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