Introduction — Economics STD 11 Commerce — Question

It is very difficult to give such a definition of statistics which covers all of its characteristics. However a simple definition can be given by a layman as well. If we ask a man what is statistics, he may reply, it is numerical facts. He is also true to some extent. But it is not a complete definition. Many statisticians have also tried but there is hardly any definition which covers all its aspects. Bowley defined statistics in two ways. (a) "Statistics is the science of counting". (b) "Statistics may rightly be said science of averages." By giving two definitions, he proved that none of his definition is complete. But even if we take both definitions together, it is incomplete because statistics is much more than counting and averages. Broadly speaking statistics can be defined in two senses.

1. Singular sense.
2. Plural Sense.