Put statistics into practice with Python! Data-driven decisions rely on statistics. Statistics Every Programmer Needs introduces the statistical and quantitative methods that will help you go beyond “gut feeling” for tasks like predicting stock prices or assessing quality control, with examples using the rich tools of the Python ecosystem. Statistics Every Programmer Needs will teach you how to: Apply foundational and advanced statistical techniques Build predictive models and simulations Optimize decisions under constraints Interpret and validate results with statistical rigor Implement quantitative methods using Python In this hands-on guide, stats expert Gary Sutton blends the theory behind these statistical techniques with practical Python-based applications, offering structured, reproducible, and defensible methods for tackling complex decisions. Well-annotated and reusable Python code listings illustrate each method, with examples you can follow to practice your new skills. About the Technology Whether you’re analyzing application performance metrics, creating relevant dashboards and reports, or immersing yourself in a numbers-heavy coding project, every programmer needs to know how to turn raw data into actionable insight. Statistics and quantitative analysis are the essential tools every programmer needs to clarify uncertainty, optimize outcomes, and make informed choices. About the Book Statistics Every Programmer Needs teaches you how to apply statistics to the everyday problems you’ll face as a software developer. Each chapter is a new tutorial. You’ll predict ultramarathon times using linear regression, forecast stock prices with time series models, analyze system reliability using Markov chains, and much more. The book emphasizes a balance between theory and hands-on Python implementation, with annotated code and real-world examples to ensure practical understanding and adaptability across industries. What's Inside Probability basics and distributions Random variables Regression Decision trees and random forests Time series analysis Linear programming Monte Carlo and Markov methods and much more About the Reader Examples are in Python. About the Author Gary Sutton is a business intelligence and analytics leader and the author of Statistics Slam Dunk: Statistical analysis with R on real NBA data. Quotes A well-organized tour of the statistical, machine learning and optimization tools every data science programmer needs. - Peter Bruce, Author of Statistics for Data Science and Analytics Turns statistics from a stumbling block into a superpower. Clear, relevant, and written with a coder’s mindset! - Mahima Bansod, LogicMonitor Essential! Stats and modeling with an emphasis on real-world system design. - Anupam Samanta, Google A great blend of theory and practice. - Ariel Andres, Scotia Global Asset Management

Learn statistics by analyzing professional basketball data! In this action-packed book, you’ll build your skills in exploratory data analysis by digging into the fascinating world of NBA games and player stats using the R language. Statistics Slam Dunk is an engaging how-to guide for statistical analysis with R. Each chapter contains an end-to-end data science or statistics project delving into NBA data and revealing real-world sporting insights. Written by a former basketball player turned business intelligence and analytics leader, you’ll get practical experience tidying, wrangling, exploring, testing, modeling, and otherwise analyzing data with the best and latest R packages and functions. In Statistics Slam Dunk you’ll develop a toolbox of R programming skills including: Reading and writing data Installing and loading packages Transforming, tidying, and wrangling data Applying best-in-class exploratory data analysis techniques Creating compelling visualizations Developing supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms Executing hypothesis tests, including t-tests and chi-square tests for independence Computing expected values, Gini coefficients, z-scores, and other measures If you’re looking to switch to R from another language, or trade base R for tidyverse functions, this book is the perfect training coach. Much more than a beginner’s guide, it teaches statistics and data science methods that have tons of use cases. And just like in the real world, you’ll get no clean pre-packaged data sets in Statistics Slam Dunk. You’ll take on the challenge of wrangling messy data to drill on the skills that will make you the star player on any data team. About the Technology Statistics Slam Dunk is a data science manual with a difference. Each chapter is a complete, self-contained statistics or data science project for you to work through—from importing data, to wrangling it, testing it, visualizing it, and modeling it. Throughout the book, you’ll work exclusively with NBA data sets and the R language, applying best-in-class statistics techniques to reveal fun and fascinating truths about the NBA. About the Book Is losing basketball games on purpose a rational strategy? Which hustle statistics have an impact on wins and losses? Does spending more on player salaries translate into a winning record? You’ll answer all these questions and more. Plus, R’s visualization capabilities shine through in the book’s 300 plots and charts, including Pareto charts, Sankey diagrams, Cleveland dot plots, and dendrograms. What's Inside Transforming, tidying, and wrangling data Applying best-in-class exploratory data analysis techniques Developing supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms Executing hypothesis tests and effect size tests About the Reader For readers who know basic statistics. No advanced knowledge of R—or basketball—required. About the Author Gary Sutton is a former basketball player who has built and led high-performing business intelligence and analytics organizations across multiple verticals. Quotes In this journey of exploration, every computer scientist will find a valuable ally in understanding the language of data. - Kim Lokøy, areo Transcends other R titles by revealing the hidden narratives that lie within the numbers. - Christian Sutton, Shell International Exploration and Production Seamlessly blending theory and practical insights, this book serves as an indispensable guide for those venturing into the field of data analytics. - Juan Delgado, Sodexo BRS