Drawing conclusions from data


Dear diary: today I am fifty years old. I went to the club and it took me 10 minutes to swim 10 laps. I analyzed the data and conclude that I averaged one lap per minute. I also complained to the pool manager that we need a pool that is twice as large.

Dear diary: today I am sixty years old. I went to the club and it took me 10 minutes to swim 10 laps. I analyzed the data from the last ten years and conclude that the standard deviation of my swimming rate is zero. I also complained to the pool manager that we need a pool that is twice as large.

Dear diary: today I am seventy years old. I went to the club but it took me 20 minutes to swim 10 laps. I analyzed the data and conclude that finally - after twenty years - the pool manager has responded to my complaints!

Dennis Pearl

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