What Are The Functions Of Statistics?

Statistics help you draw conclusions from a sample of the whole population, or when noise is present in the data (or both). Statistics helps you estimate probable errors and the confidence you can have in your conclusion. It helps you understand the probability that what you are seeing in your data is there by chance, not due to some effect you might be investigating. Statistics are often used for classifying data according to how far it is from the mean--what we call grading on the curve, or finding your "percentile" in test results.

The notions "100 year flood", mean high (and low) temperatures, "six sigma" are based on statistics.