<p>@jimmyboy23 I don’t exactly like the formulaic parts of statistics, because I can’t intuitively get a lot of it, but the formulas does it make it easy to memorize. Unfortunately, with math, it’s more work to memorize without knowing why it works. I just know what the formula represents on a graph.</p>
Barron’s has been recommended to me by many people, so I will probably use that. Currently finishing up distribution models.
I decided to take AP Stats for several reasons: I like math, so I thought I wouldnt mind taking two math classes, and also, I needed another AP class to take and so I just went along with Stats. Im halfway through this course, and I gotta say that although I dont regret taking this class, people have to stop underestimating the difficulty of AP Stats. I find it so much harder than precalc honors, because AP Stats isnt entirely math. It just uses alg 2 math (some are even basic algebra) and the rest goes into the calculator, but its important to know what youre actually doing to plug things into the calculator. For example, you need to know when to use binomcdf or binompdf or even geomcdf or geompdf, and thats the hard part, since anyone can plug numbers into a calculator.
When should I start studying for this test? I’m in the class, but the teacher has some family issues right now so our class is kinda on hold.
ok, so I have literally no idea how to use the calculator for statistics because my teacher only explains the ti-84 one, and I have ti-89. How bad will this affect me.
Also, most of the class is full of seniors who really don’t care about the class. On the last test, I think everyone got like 40-50’s. The teacher is really trying but gives up sometimes because nobody cares. Does this happen to any of you guys?
Have you guys covered everything in class? My teacher is very bad and we move at a terribly slow pace. I have to self study some, otherwise I’m afraid I’d fail. Now I’m stuck at T distribution. Is it a hard concept guys? Please help.
@kkpanu9 I’m a senior and I actually care. But my teacher doesn’t.
t distributions follow a different chart than the Normal curve. It has more area in the tails and less in the center. Also unlike the Normal dist., the t distribution changes depending on what your sample size n is. Higher n, curve becomes more and more normal (meaning tails flatten out and center bells up).
There is a term called “degrees of freedom,” or df, which is just a fancy way of indicating what your sample size n is, where df=n-1. Therefore, because t-dist. depends on n, it really depends on df.
Before doing any problem involving a t-distribution, it is crucial that you locate the sample size n, and hence the degrees of freedom df. If you are doing a confidence interval problem, you also must locate the correct confidence level.
Hey guys, is anyone self studying for this exam? Anyone aware of any “strategy” in studying for this exam? Is Barrons alone sufficient in getting me that 5 for this AP? How long would it take to complete the book?
The only knowledge I have of this class is basically competition math… but this is statistics so I won’t understand the big terminology etc… In terms of mathematics rigorness, I’m pretty confident but I’m doubting my linguistic ability.
@sjwon3789 I am not self-studying, but I have heard that Barron’s is the best prep book for this exam by far. I don’t know if it will get you a 5, but you should be able to pass with it.
This class is giving me heart problems.
THIS CLASS IS SO FREAKING BORING …lol but srsly i fall asleep everyday. Predicted to get a 4 but I can bring up to a 5 in the next two weeks.
Not saying that I’m in this exact situation… but what if a student hasn’t really learned much in this class but has exactly a week to cram from this test, what chapters should he or she study extensively?
Also have Practice of Stats for AP textbook and Barrons
@BarryYung42 Probability and all of the Hypothesis tests
and confidence intervals
Guys can you help. When I am working on the mc from the barons, sometimes they use a t test and sometimes they use a z test when they want to find the average. I know that when the sd is known, you use a z test. But can anyone give me anymore insight?
How much time have you guys invested if you are self studying for this? Lol I need to get started…
@APmaster007 I’m pretty sure a t test is for sample data, while z test is for population data. You also usually use t when n < 30. Typically, if the standard deviation is known, use a z test! ( I also had trouble with z test v.s. t test and z int v.s. t int) :-S Not feeling particularly ready for the test… anybody know on average what percentage is needed on the stats test to get a 5? It varies a lot though, doesn’t it…
@drakonus , you could use the ap calculator http://appass.com/calculators/statistics
And don’t you mean a t test is for population data, and a z test for sample data?
@APmaster007 you always use a z-test when they give proportions and are asking you to find a confidence interval for the true population proportion or something. When they give you means and ask you to calculate population means and such, you will almost always use a t-test. This is because t tests are used when only the sample standard deviation is given (s). In theory, when the population standard deviation (greek letter sigma) is given, you are to use z tests but you’ll almost never come across a case where you are to use a z test for means. Think about it this way: if you already know the population standard deviation, shouldn’t you already know the population mean? Then what’s the point in calculating a population mean if you already know it? Because of that, AP test writers seldom will give a question that has z test for means. So if you are still totally confused, it would be a safe bet to just think of using z-tests for proportions and t-tests for means.