Which statement best describes a statistic?

Which statement best describes a statistic?

• A. A numerical value computed from a sample
• B. A numerical value describing the entire population
• C. A random variable
• D. A parameter

Answer: (A)

A statistic is a numerical summary derived from a sample. It represents the value you calculate from the data you actually collected (for example, the sample mean or the sample proportion) and is used to estimate the corresponding characteristic of the whole population. This distinguishes it from a parameter, which would describe the entire population and is typically unknown. A random variable is a quantity that can take different values depending on random outcomes, which is a broader concept than a specific numerical summary from your observed sample. So the statement that best describes a statistic is that it is a numerical value computed from a sample.

A statistic is a numerical summary derived from a sample. It represents the value you calculate from the data you actually collected (for example, the sample mean or the sample proportion) and is used to estimate the corresponding characteristic of the whole population. This distinguishes it from a parameter, which would describe the entire population and is typically unknown. A random variable is a quantity that can take different values depending on random outcomes, which is a broader concept than a specific numerical summary from your observed sample. So the statement that best describes a statistic is that it is a numerical value computed from a sample.