# Thread: list of all symbols used in statistics

1. ## list of all symbols used in statistics

hello

is there a list of all symbols used in statistics that explains them, for example the ^ under a letter, etc

also, is there a symbol like ÷ turned clockwise for 90 degrees?

thanks

2. Where are you getting these symbols from, that they aren't explaining what they mean. The "^" is usually called a "hat" and refers to a proportion (as opposed to a population). Not sure what your clockwise-symbol is. Some context would help.

3. Originally Posted by ANDS!
Where are you getting these symbols from, that they aren't explaining what they mean. The "^" is usually called a "hat" and refers to a proportion (as opposed to a population). Not sure what your clockwise-symbol is. Some context would help.

can you tell me please what does the ^ over β symbol represents here:
Linear regression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and here:
Regression analysis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thanks

4. Originally Posted by mathos

can you tell me please what does the ^ over β symbol represents here:
Linear regression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and here:
Regression analysis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thanks
That is a "hat" and refers to a proportion parameter (as opposed to a population parameter. . .or statistic I guess). It's called beta-hat, or p-hat, or delta-hat, to distinguish from the population version.

5. Originally Posted by ANDS!
That is a "hat" and refers to a proportion parameter (as opposed to a population parameter. . .or statistic I guess). It's called beta-hat, or p-hat, or delta-hat, to distinguish from the population version.
thanks but in the second link, it says:

"Given a random sample from the population, we estimate the population parameters"

so does the hat also mean "estimation" ?

6. Originally Posted by mathos
thanks but in the second link, it says:

"Given a random sample from the population, we estimate the population parameters"

so does the hat also mean "estimation" ?
It do. Sometimes (by proving it algebraically) they are one and the same. And sometimes they are not. To prevent confusion and to make sure folks know what they are talking about, that little hat is placed above the value.