From algebra, we understand that (X) is a variable, but in statistics, (X) works a little differently.

(X) is still a variable, but it does not represent a single number as it does in algebra. In statistics, (X) represents a set of numbers. This means that when you perform an operation using (X), you are not performing that operation on one number, but rather on many different numbers at the same time.

Let’s assume that we know the ages for the following people:

• Tom: 30
• Fatima: 21
• Ben: 59
• Siva: 45

Statistically, our (X) would represent ALL of these ages at the same time:
(X = 30, 21, 49, 45)

For example, if we performed an operation of adding (1) to (X), it would affect every data entry that (X) represents:
(X + 1 = 31, 22, 50, 46)

In statistics, we repeat the operation for every number that is represented in the set of numbers.

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Why do you think that (X) performs a slightly different operation in statistics when compared to basic algebra?

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