Our next topic is Typicality. This topic serves as a bridge between our fondational topics (shapeshifting, mad science, and justice) and our application topics (health decisions, personal finance decisions, and business decisions).
The English language makes it complicated to talk about what "typical" means. There are many synonyms for the word.
Real life also makes it complicated to talk about what "typical" means. Many groups of numbers do not have a value that happens most often, or is most representative.
Tables can help summarize data to help us see typicality. But tables can also be used to cloud issues about typicality.
Charts can clearly show typicality with a nice visual picture. But charts can also be used to create a false illusion of typicality.
We will look closely at all these issues surrounding typicality. That way we will be prepared to think clearly when our upcoming applications use the word "typical" or its synonyms.
How many calories per day should a typical person eat?
What is a healthy aerobic exercise heart rate for an average person?
In general, what percentage of an onion is removed while peeling and trimming?
What is a normal percentage of household income to spend on housing?
How much do most people save for retirement?
What is the standard markup used in that type of retail business?
What will be the expected value in twenty years for that investment portfolio?
As we study this topic, work on making helpful and organized notes, so you have handy the comments, formulas, and example problems you need.