Random numbers

Imagine you've presented your recommendations to your supervisor, and she is nearly convinced. As a final step, she asks you to go back and run a few simulations under different conditions and slightly different data. This is a perfect case for using random numbers as we noted in the video. Remember that by multiplying the actual data by some random factor, we can vary the data slightly and test our predictions under slightly different conditions.

This exercise is part of the course

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

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Exercise instructions

In cells H2:H10, generate random numbers that fall between -10 and 10.
Adjust the formulas you created in cells H2:H10 to create a multiplier that will skew the data by a factor of 2 (on average), rather than a factor of 10.

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Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

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The first chapter presents common terminology, introduces methods for determining significant differences between groups, and outlines the kinds of error and uncertainty involved. We will specifically look at Seattle crime data and evaluate crime rate differences between precincts and neighborhoods. This chapter will equip learners to identify threats to the validity and accuracy of their conclusions.

Exercise 1: Defining error and uncertainty Exercise 2: Measures of central tendency Exercise 3: Crime time Exercise 4: IF functions Exercise 5: Extracting UNIQUE() values Exercise 6: Book 'em and count 'em Exercise 7: Averages and IF conditions Exercise 8: Counts with multiple criteria Exercise 9: Correlation Exercise 10: Rap sheet Exercise 11: Correlation preparation Exercise 12: A (crimes) committed relationship Exercise 13: Strong relationships

The second chapter outlines both rudimentary (e.g., moving average, seasonal average, yearly average) and more complicated methods (e.g., linear regression) for making predictions and outlines the kinds of error and uncertainty involved. We will specifically look at anonymized student grades data and evaluate the accuracy of our predictions for given students. Throughout the chapter, we will identify threats to the validity and accuracy of our predictions.

Exercise 1: Making the grade Exercise 2: We all have our (central) tendencies Exercise 3: Variable weights Exercise 4: Now weight a minute Exercise 5: Lying in weights Exercise 6: Advanced prediction strategies Exercise 7: What's in the FORECAST()?Exercise 8: Variation in predictions Exercise 9: Seems about right Exercise 10: How clear is your crystal ball?Exercise 11: Prediction accuracy Exercise 12: Absolute deviation Exercise 13: Average absolute deviation Exercise 14: Statistical significance Exercise 15: Significant differences Exercise 16: Significant differences of opinion

Chapter 3 encourages learners to test the assumptions of their predictions using data on car crashes. Specifically, they will determine how to allocate resources to reduce injuries and fatalities from auto accidents. Learners will discuss the impact of outliers in prediction accuracy, evaluate the importance of normally distributed data in making predictions, employ consequence-likelihood matrices in risk management, and adapt psychological heuristics to discussions of numerical uncertainty and risk.

Exercise 1: Outliers Exercise 2: Down and outlier Exercise 3: No filter Exercise 4: Addressing outliers Exercise 5: Sparklines Exercise 6: Can't start a fire without a spark(line)Exercise 7: The max matters Exercise 8: What's the worst that could happen?Exercise 9: There are consequences Exercise 10: A likely story Exercise 11: Risky business Exercise 12: Risky business Exercise 13: Random numbers

Current Exercise

Exercise 14: How random Exercise 15: Be fruitful and multiply Exercise 16: Revisiting sparklines

The final chapter integrates all the previous lessons into a constructed-world scenario. Learners are tasked with updating the menu at their small business: the Risky Business Bakery. They need to figure out whether to add or drop menu items based on whether there are significant differences in sales by baked good; whether their predicted sales figures from their accountant are accurate.

Exercise 1: A half-baked idea?Exercise 2: Half-baked ideas Exercise 3: Falling on hearth times Exercise 4: Summary statistics Exercise 5: Do you know your muffins, man?Exercise 6: Changing prices Exercise 7: Bread on the rise?Exercise 8: Paying the price Exercise 9: Is change on the menu?Exercise 10: A recipe for change Exercise 11: Rain, rain, go away Exercise 12: Fed up Exercise 13: Review: Are we certain now?Exercise 14: Adding variation Exercise 15: Win some, lose some Exercise 16: Just t-testing Exercise 17: Wrap-up