CSETMathGuru: THE Site for Single Subject Math
What books do I recommend for the Subtest II: Statistics portion of the Single Subject Math CSET?
First, the good news. Loosely speaking, Statistics in Subtest II can verily be regarded as the counterpart of Number Theory / Abstract Algebra in Subtest I (and History of Math in Subtest III) in the sense that the actual coverage / emphasis is rather minuscule: about 20% (~ 5 / 30) on the MCQs and 25% (1 / 4) on the Free Response are devoted to Statistics!
The only difference is that as a subject, Statistics is infinitely more accessible than Number Theory/Abstract Algebra!
Here's another nugget: at least 2 of the Stat MCQs can answered simply by using one's 'common sense' and prior knowledge, however nebulous that might be!
Re books on Statistics, in general, ANY college book of reasonably recent vintage - say, published during the post-Reagan era! - should be adequate, especially those with BASIC, ELEMENTARY, A FIRST COURSE, BUSINESS and INTRODUCTORY in their titles.
The texts I'd actually recommend for the CSET are:
a) Barron's 101 Study Keys Probability and Statistics
By: Martin Sternstein
Pub: Barron's Educational Series
Ed: 1994
Comments: As a quick study / reference tool I believe it's simply SMASHING: very well-written, most lucid and blasted good examples. Quick-study books are customarily lacking in the explicitness and detail I prefer, but this slender volume is just exquisite! So as a Statistics Major - and an AP Teacher of the subject - I unhesitatingly give it MY imprimatur of approval (which is what it lacked to catapult it into the bestseller-lists, yes?). So go buy it! Um, like, NOW! [It's available at your local Barnes & Nobles or BORDERS for ~ $15...!]
Normally, I am as wary as a, er, an animal that is extremely wary (?!!), you know, before I commit myself, since I tend to actually read and scrutinize the text, examine practically EVERY word of a book...as I grasp the organization, the layout, the examples, the illustrations, and, in general, the "logic" of it. And quick-study books are customarily lacking in the explicitness and detail I prefer, but this slender volume is just exquisite! So as a Statistics Major - and an AP Teacher of the subject - I unhesitatingly give it MY imprimatur of approval (which is what it lacked to catapult it into the bestseller-lists, yes?).
So go buy it! Um, like, NOW!
BUUUUUUUY IT!
Since it's authored by my brother-in-law, each time a sale rings up he whispers romantic pleasantries into my sister's ears! [OK, I jest...the cad treats her ill, come what may...Oh, all right, confound you, I do NOT have a sister (unless there's somebody lurking clandestinely without my cognizance...), I am NOT related to the author (unless one takes that Six Degrees Of Separation garbage seriously), I don't know if he's a bounder and verily he might be one, I am quite unaware if he's married and his marital status bothers not a trifle, and finally, I am utterly ignorant about him treating his lady-wife well if he were indeed so engaged...]
Qs? Call (Jay): 951-489-7665
OR email me: [email protected].
b) Schaum's Outline of Probability and Statistics
By: Murray R Spiegel, John J. Schiller, R. Alu Srinivasan
Pub: McGraw-Hill
Ed: 2nd
or
Schaum's Outline of Statistics (Paperback)
By: Murray R Spiegel
Pub: McGraw-Hill
Ed: 3rd
Comments: For Schaum's Series fans (!), these are the relevant texts. As always, plenty of examples, lucid prose and uncluttered presentation is the hallmark of these perennially popular books! Personally, I find the explanations a tad too succinct for my tastes: I prefer the more detailed and exhaustive narrative of a regular textbook [see choice a) and b) above!], but that's just me!
c) Introductory Statistics
By: Wonnacott & Wonnacott
Pub: Wiley
Ed: 3/4/5
OR
Statistics: Informed Decisions Using Data
By: Michael III Sullivan
Pub: Prentice Hall
Ed: 2nd
OR
Fundamentals of Statistics
By Michael Sullivan
Pub: Prentice Hall
Ed: 2004
OR
Introductory Statistics
By: Weiss
Pub: Addison Wesley
Ed: 5/6/7
Comments: All are excellent basic textbooks on the subject and quite popular in introductory Stat courses in colleges. They're uniformly well-written and clear, pitched at the greenhorn.
Note: In general, one doesn't need to procure the most recent editions: as long as the volume doesn't bear Gutenberg as the publisher, one would do just swimmingly!
RECOMMENDATION: Use [one of the books in] a) OR [one of the books in] b) together with c) for best results!
Qs? Call (Jay): 951-489-7665
OR email me: [email protected].
First, the good news. Loosely speaking, Statistics in Subtest II can verily be regarded as the counterpart of Number Theory / Abstract Algebra in Subtest I (and History of Math in Subtest III) in the sense that the actual coverage / emphasis is rather minuscule: about 20% (~ 5 / 30) on the MCQs and 25% (1 / 4) on the Free Response are devoted to Statistics!
The only difference is that as a subject, Statistics is infinitely more accessible than Number Theory/Abstract Algebra!
Here's another nugget: at least 2 of the Stat MCQs can answered simply by using one's 'common sense' and prior knowledge, however nebulous that might be!
Re books on Statistics, in general, ANY college book of reasonably recent vintage - say, published during the post-Reagan era! - should be adequate, especially those with BASIC, ELEMENTARY, A FIRST COURSE, BUSINESS and INTRODUCTORY in their titles.
The texts I'd actually recommend for the CSET are:
a) Barron's 101 Study Keys Probability and Statistics
By: Martin Sternstein
Pub: Barron's Educational Series
Ed: 1994
Comments: As a quick study / reference tool I believe it's simply SMASHING: very well-written, most lucid and blasted good examples. Quick-study books are customarily lacking in the explicitness and detail I prefer, but this slender volume is just exquisite! So as a Statistics Major - and an AP Teacher of the subject - I unhesitatingly give it MY imprimatur of approval (which is what it lacked to catapult it into the bestseller-lists, yes?). So go buy it! Um, like, NOW! [It's available at your local Barnes & Nobles or BORDERS for ~ $15...!]
Normally, I am as wary as a, er, an animal that is extremely wary (?!!), you know, before I commit myself, since I tend to actually read and scrutinize the text, examine practically EVERY word of a book...as I grasp the organization, the layout, the examples, the illustrations, and, in general, the "logic" of it. And quick-study books are customarily lacking in the explicitness and detail I prefer, but this slender volume is just exquisite! So as a Statistics Major - and an AP Teacher of the subject - I unhesitatingly give it MY imprimatur of approval (which is what it lacked to catapult it into the bestseller-lists, yes?).
So go buy it! Um, like, NOW!
BUUUUUUUY IT!
Since it's authored by my brother-in-law, each time a sale rings up he whispers romantic pleasantries into my sister's ears! [OK, I jest...the cad treats her ill, come what may...Oh, all right, confound you, I do NOT have a sister (unless there's somebody lurking clandestinely without my cognizance...), I am NOT related to the author (unless one takes that Six Degrees Of Separation garbage seriously), I don't know if he's a bounder and verily he might be one, I am quite unaware if he's married and his marital status bothers not a trifle, and finally, I am utterly ignorant about him treating his lady-wife well if he were indeed so engaged...]
Qs? Call (Jay): 951-489-7665
OR email me: [email protected].
b) Schaum's Outline of Probability and Statistics
By: Murray R Spiegel, John J. Schiller, R. Alu Srinivasan
Pub: McGraw-Hill
Ed: 2nd
or
Schaum's Outline of Statistics (Paperback)
By: Murray R Spiegel
Pub: McGraw-Hill
Ed: 3rd
Comments: For Schaum's Series fans (!), these are the relevant texts. As always, plenty of examples, lucid prose and uncluttered presentation is the hallmark of these perennially popular books! Personally, I find the explanations a tad too succinct for my tastes: I prefer the more detailed and exhaustive narrative of a regular textbook [see choice a) and b) above!], but that's just me!
c) Introductory Statistics
By: Wonnacott & Wonnacott
Pub: Wiley
Ed: 3/4/5
OR
Statistics: Informed Decisions Using Data
By: Michael III Sullivan
Pub: Prentice Hall
Ed: 2nd
OR
Fundamentals of Statistics
By Michael Sullivan
Pub: Prentice Hall
Ed: 2004
OR
Introductory Statistics
By: Weiss
Pub: Addison Wesley
Ed: 5/6/7
Comments: All are excellent basic textbooks on the subject and quite popular in introductory Stat courses in colleges. They're uniformly well-written and clear, pitched at the greenhorn.
Note: In general, one doesn't need to procure the most recent editions: as long as the volume doesn't bear Gutenberg as the publisher, one would do just swimmingly!
RECOMMENDATION: Use [one of the books in] a) OR [one of the books in] b) together with c) for best results!
Qs? Call (Jay): 951-489-7665
OR email me: [email protected].