Statistics: the more practical math

What happens when students want to explore a more practical side of math?

One common route taken by seniors and juniors is AP Statistics, a math class that deals with designing and conducting experimental studies as well as analyzing data. This class is taught by teachers Jennifer Mantle and Seema Patel.

“All kinds of kids take AP Statistics,” Mantle said. “[Students] from Trig/Math 4 all the way through Calculus BC.”

Junior Eugene Che has found the class to be challenging to some extent, but not to an extreme.

“Having a bunch of seniors in the class might seem intimidating, but it really isn’t,” Che said.
Students are motivated to take AP Statistics for several reasons.

“Some [take AP Statistics] because they have no other course to take, and some because they want to enter a field of study in college where statistics is needed as opposed to calculus,” Mantle said.

Senior Michael Chang took AP Statistics because he could not fit multivariable calculus, which would have to be taken at a community college, into his schedule.

On the other hand, senior Kristal Kung joined AP Statistics without taking calculus. Kung advised students who enjoyed the math they were used to in algebra and precalculus to take calculus and stated that AP Statistics is a “more applied math that requires a lot more common sense.”

Looking at the two AP math courses, AP Statistics and AP Calculus, Mantle believes that choosing the right course depends on what field the student wants to pursue in the future.

She said that those desiring to earn a degree in mathematics, physics or chemistry are generally expected to take calculus, while those pursuing degrees such as English, history or a foreign language usually need statistics more.

To students who cannot decide between the two, Mantle said, “students should choose a course that sets them up well for college math requirements.”