$$ \newcommand{\defeq}{\stackrel{\small\bullet}{=}} \newcommand{\ra}{\rangle} \newcommand{\la}{\langle} \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\left\|#1\right\|} \newcommand{\abs}[1]{\left\lvert#1\right\rvert} \newcommand{\Abs}[1]{\Bigl\lvert#1\Bigr\rvert} \newcommand{\pr}{{\mathbb P}} \newcommand{\qr}{{\mathbb Q}} \newcommand{\xv}{{\boldsymbol{x}}} \newcommand{\av}{{\boldsymbol{a}}} \newcommand{\bv}{{\boldsymbol{b}}} \newcommand{\cv}{{\boldsymbol{c}}} \newcommand{\dv}{{\boldsymbol{d}}} \newcommand{\ev}{{\boldsymbol{e}}} \newcommand{\fv}{{\boldsymbol{f}}} \newcommand{\gv}{{\boldsymbol{g}}} \newcommand{\hv}{{\boldsymbol{h}}} \newcommand{\nv}{{\boldsymbol{n}}} \newcommand{\sv}{{\boldsymbol{s}}} \newcommand{\tv}{{\boldsymbol{t}}} \newcommand{\uv}{{\boldsymbol{u}}} \newcommand{\vv}{{\boldsymbol{v}}} \newcommand{\wv}{{\boldsymbol{w}}} \newcommand{\zerov}{{\mathbf{0}}} \newcommand{\onev}{{\mathbf{0}}} \newcommand{\phiv}{{\boldsymbol{\phi}}} \newcommand{\cc}{{\check{C}}} \newcommand{\xv}{{\boldsymbol{x}}} \newcommand{\Xv}{{\boldsymbol{X}\!}} \newcommand{\yv}{{\boldsymbol{y}}} \newcommand{\Yv}{{\boldsymbol{Y}}} \newcommand{\zv}{{\boldsymbol{z}}} \newcommand{\Zv}{{\boldsymbol{Z}}} \newcommand{\Iv}{{\boldsymbol{I}}} \newcommand{\Jv}{{\boldsymbol{J}}} \newcommand{\Cv}{{\boldsymbol{C}}} \newcommand{\Ev}{{\boldsymbol{E}}} \newcommand{\Fv}{{\boldsymbol{F}}} \newcommand{\Gv}{{\boldsymbol{G}}} \newcommand{\Hv}{{\boldsymbol{H}}} \newcommand{\alphav}{{\boldsymbol{\alpha}}} \newcommand{\epsilonv}{{\boldsymbol{\epsilon}}} \newcommand{\betav}{{\boldsymbol{\beta}}} \newcommand{\deltav}{{\boldsymbol{\delta}}} \newcommand{\gammav}{{\boldsymbol{\gamma}}} \newcommand{\etav}{{\boldsymbol{\eta}}} \newcommand{\piv}{{\boldsymbol{\pi}}} \newcommand{\thetav}{{\boldsymbol{\theta}}} \newcommand{\tauv}{{\boldsymbol{\tau}}} \newcommand{\muv}{{\boldsymbol{\mu}}} \newcommand{\phiinv}{\Phi^{-1}} \newcommand{\Fiinv}{F^{-1}} \newcommand{\giinv}{g^{-1}} \newcommand{\fhat}{\hat{f}} \newcommand{\ghat}{\hat{g}} \newcommand{\ftheta}{f_\theta} \newcommand{\fthetav}{f_{\thetav}} \newcommand{\gtheta}{g_\theta} \newcommand{\gthetav}{g_{\thetav}} \newcommand{\ztheta}{Z_\theta} \newcommand{\xtheta}{\Xv_\theta} \newcommand{\ytheta}{\Yv_\theta} \newcommand{\p}{\partial} \newcommand{\f}{\frac} \newcommand{\cf}{\cfrac} \newcommand{\e}{\epsilon} \newcommand{\indep}{\perp\kern-5pt \perp} \newcommand{\inner}[1]{\langle#1\rangle} \newcommand{\pa}[1]{\left(#1\right)} \newcommand{\pb}[1]{\left\{#1\right\}} \newcommand{\pc}[1]{\left[#1\right]} \newcommand{\pA}[1]{\Big(#1\Big)} \newcommand{\pB}[1]{\Big\{#1\Big\}} \newcommand{\pC}[1]{\Big[#1\Big]} \newcommand{\ty}[1]{\texttt{#1}} \newcommand{\borel}[1]{\mathscr{B}\pa{#1}} \newcommand{\scr}{\mathcal} \newcommand{\scrb}{\mathscr} \newcommand{\argmin}{\mathop{\text{arg}\ \!\text{min}}} \newcommand{\arginf}{\mathop{\text{arg}\ \!\text{inf}}} \newcommand{\argmax}{\mathop{\text{arg}\ \!\text{max}}} \newcommand{\argsup}{\mathop{\text{arg}\ \!\text{sup}}} \newcommand{\bigo}[1]{\mathcal{O}_{p}\!\left(#1\right)} \newcommand{\f}{\frac} \newcommand{\e}{\epsilon} \newcommand{\inv}{^{-1}} \newcommand{\phiinv}{\Phi^{-1}} \newcommand{\Fiinv}{F^{-1}} \newcommand{\giinv}{g^{-1}} \newcommand{\fhat}{\hat{f}} \newcommand{\ghat}{\hat{g}} \newcommand{\ftheta}{f_\theta} \newcommand{\fthetav}{f_{\thetav}} \newcommand{\gtheta}{g_\theta} \newcommand{\gthetav}{g_{\thetav}} \newcommand{\ztheta}{Z_\theta} \newcommand{\xtheta}{\Xv_\theta} \newcommand{\ytheta}{\Yv_\theta} \newcommand{\absdet}[1]{\abs{\det\pa{#1}}} \newcommand{\jac}[1]{\Jv_{#1}} \newcommand{\absdetjx}[1]{\abs{\det\pa{\Jv_{#1}}}} \newcommand{\absdetj}[1]{\norm{\Jv_{#1}}} \newcommand{\sint}{sin(\theta)} \newcommand{\cost}{cos(\theta)} \newcommand{\sor}[1]{S\mathcal{O}(#1)} \newcommand{\ort}[1]{\mathcal{O}(#1)} \newcommand{\A}{{\mathcal A}} \newcommand{\C}{{\mathbb C}} \newcommand{\E}{{\mathbb E}} \newcommand{\F}{{\mathcal{F}}} \newcommand{\N}{{\mathbb N}} \newcommand{\R}{{\mathbb R}} \newcommand{\Q}{{\mathbb Q}} \newcommand{\Z}{{\mathbb Z}} \newcommand{\X}{{\mathbb{X}}} \newcommand{\Y}{{\mathbb{Y}}} \newcommand{\G}{{\mathcal{G}}} \newcommand{\M}{{\mathcal{M}}} \newcommand{\betaequivalent}{\beta\text{-equivalent}} \newcommand{\betaequivalence}{\beta\text{-equivalence}} \newcommand{\Mb}{{\boldsymbol{\mathsf{M}}}} \newcommand{\Br}{{\mathbf{\mathsf{Bar}}}} \newcommand{\dgm}{{\mathfrak{Dgm}}} \newcommand{\Db}{{\mathbf{\mathsf{D}}}} \newcommand{\Img}{{\mathbf{\mathsf{Img}}}} \newcommand{\mmd}{{\mathbf{\mathsf{MMD}}}} \newcommand{\Xn}{{\mathbb{X}_n}} \newcommand{\Xm}{{\mathbb{X}_m}} \newcommand{\Yn}{{\mathbb{Y}_n}} \newcommand{\Ym}{Y_1, Y_2, \cdots, Y_m} \newcommand{\Xb}{{\mathbb{X}}} \newcommand{\Yb}{{\mathbb{Y}}} \newcommand{\s}{{{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\fnsbar}{{\bar{f}^n_\s}} \newcommand{\fns}{{f^n_\s}} \newcommand{\fs}{{f_\s}} \newcommand{\fsbar}{{\bar{f}_\s}} \newcommand{\barfn}{{{f}^n_\sigma}} \newcommand{\barfnm}{{{f}^{n+m}_\sigma}} \newcommand{\barfo}{{{f}_\sigma}} \newcommand{\fn}{{f^n_{\rho,\sigma}}} \newcommand{\fnm}{{f^{n+m}_{\rho,\sigma}}} \newcommand{\fo}{{f_{\rho,\sigma}}} \newcommand{\K}{{{K_{\sigma}}}} \newcommand{\barpn}{{\bar{p}^n_\sigma}} \newcommand{\barpo}{{\bar{p}_\sigma}} \newcommand{\pn}{{p^n_\sigma}} \newcommand{\po}{{p_\sigma}} \newcommand{\J}{{\mathcal{J}}} \newcommand{\B}{{\mathcal{B}}} \newcommand{\pt}{{\tilde{\mathbb{P}}}} \newcommand{\Winf}{{W_{\infty}}} \newcommand{\winf}{{W_{\infty}}} \newcommand{\HH}{{{\scr{H}_{\sigma}}}} \newcommand{\D}{{{\scr{D}_{\sigma}}}} \newcommand{\Ts}{{T_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\Phis}{{\Phi_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\nus}{{\nu_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\Qs}{{\mathcal{Q}_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\ws}{{w_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\vs}{{v_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\ds}{{\delta_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\fp}{{f_{\pr}}} \newcommand{\prs}{{\widetilde{\pr}_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\qrs}{{\widetilde{\qr}_{\sigma}}} \newcommand{\Inner}[1]{\Bigl\langle#1\Bigr\rangle} \newcommand{\innerh}[1]{\langle#1\rangle_{\HH}} \newcommand{\Innerh}[1]{\Bigl\langle#1\Bigr\rangle_{\HH}} \newcommand{\normh}[1]{\norm{#1}_{\HH}} \newcommand{\norminf}[1]{\norm{#1}_{\infty}} \newcommand{\gdelta}{{\G_{\delta}}} \newcommand{\supgdelta}{{\sup\limits_{g\in\gdelta}\abs{\Delta_n(g)}}} \newcommand{\id}{\text{id}} \newcommand{\supp}{\text{supp}} \newcommand{\cech}{\v{C}ech} \newcommand{\Zz}{{\scr{Z}}} \newcommand{\psis}{\psi_\s} \newcommand{\phigox}{\Phis(\xv)-g} \newcommand{\phigoy}{\Phis(\yv)-g} \newcommand{\fox}{{f^{\epsilon,{\xv}}_{\rho,\sigma}}} \newcommand{\prx}{{\pr^{\epsilon}_{\xv}}} \newcommand{\pro}{{\pr_0}} \newcommand{\dotfo}{\dot{f}_{\!\!\rho,\s}} \newcommand{\phifo}{{\Phis(\yv)-\fo}} \newcommand{\phifox}{{\Phis(\xv)-\fo}} \newcommand{\kinf}{{\norm{\K}_{\infty}}} \newcommand{\half}{{{\f{1}{2}}}} \newcommand{\Jx}{\J_{\epsilon,{\xv}}} \newcommand{\dpy}{\text{differential privacy}} \newcommand{\edpy}{$\epsilon$--\text{differential privacy}} \newcommand{\eedpy}{$\epsilon$--edge \text{differential privacy}} \newcommand{\dpe}{\text{differentially private}} \newcommand{\edpe}{$\epsilon$--\text{differentially private}} \newcommand{\eedpe}{$\epsilon$--edge \text{differentially private}} \newcommand{\er}{Erdős-Rényi} \newcommand{\krein}{Kreĭn} % \newcommand{\grdpg}{\mathsf{gRDPG}} % \newcommand{\rdpg}{\mathsf{RDPG}} % \newcommand{\eflip}{{\textsf{edgeFlip}}} % \newcommand{\grdpg}{\text{gRDPG}} % \newcommand{\rdpg}{\text{RDPG}} \newcommand{\grdpg}{\mathsf{gRDPG}} \newcommand{\rdpg}{\mathsf{RDPG}} \newcommand{\eflip}{{\text{edgeFlip}}} \newcommand{\I}{{\mathbb I}} \renewcommand{\pa}[1]{\left(#1\right)} \renewcommand{\pb}[1]{\left\{#1\right\}} \renewcommand{\pc}[1]{\left[#1\right]} \renewcommand{\V}{\mathbb{V}} \renewcommand{\W}{\mathbb{W}} %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% \providecommand{\fd}{\frac 1d} % \renewcommand{\fpp}{{\frac 1p}} \providecommand{\pfac}{\f{p}{p-1}} \providecommand{\ipfac}{\f{p-1}{p}} \providecommand{\dbq}{\Delta b_{n,m,Q}\qty(\qty{\xvo})} \providecommand{\db}{\Delta b_{n,m}\qty(\qty{\xvo})} \providecommand{\bbv}{{{\mathbb{V}}}} \providecommand{\bbw}{{{\mathbb{W}}}} \providecommand{\md}{\textsf{MoM Dist}} \providecommand{\bF}{{\mathbf{F}}} \providecommand{\sub}{{\text{Sub}}} \providecommand{\samp}{\text{$\pa{\scr{S}}$}} \providecommand{\tp}{{2^{\f{p-1}{p}}}} %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% \providecommand{\Xmn}{{\mathbb{X}_{n+m}}} \newcommand{\Dnmq}{\D[n+m, Q]} \newcommand{\Dnmh}{\D[n+m, \H]} \newcommand{\Dn}{\D[n]} \providecommand{\xvo}{\xv_0} \providecommand{\bn}[1][\null]{b^{#1}_{n}\pa{\pb{\xvo}}} \providecommand{\bnm}[1][\null]{b^{#1}_{n+m}\pa{\pb{\xvo}}} \providecommand{\bnq}[1][\null]{b^{#1}_{n,Q}\pa{\pb{\xvo}}} \providecommand{\bnmq}[1][\null]{b^{#1}_{n+m,Q}\pa{\pb{\xvo}}}\providecommand{\prq}{\pr_q} \providecommand{\dxvo}{{\delta_{\xvo}}} \providecommand{\sq}{S_q} \providecommand{\Sq}{\abs{S_q}} \providecommand{\no}{{n_o}} \providecommand{\mmdn}{\mmd\pa{\pr_n, \delta_{\xvo}}} \newcommand{\rqt}{\xi_{q}(t; n, Q)} \providecommand{\nq}{\f{n}{Q}} \providecommand{\Ot}{\Omega(t, n/Q)} \providecommand{\ut}[1]{U^{#1}} \providecommand{\vt}[1]{V^{#1}} \providecommand{\wt}[1]{W^{#1}} \providecommand{\but}[1]{\mathbb{U}^{#1}} \providecommand{\bvt}[1]{\mathbb{V}^{#1}} \providecommand{\bwt}[1]{\mathbb{W}^{#1}} \providecommand{\ball}[1]{B_{f\!, \rho}\pa{#1}} \newcommand*{\medcap}{\mathbin{\scalebox{0.75}{{\bigcap}}}}% \newcommand*{\medcup}{\mathbin{\scalebox{0.75}{{\bigcup}}}}% \providecommand{\dsf}{\mathsf{d}} \newcommand{\Dnh}{{\mathsf{D}_{n,\scr{H}}}} \newcommand{\Dph}{{\mathsf{D}_{\pr,\scr{H}}}} \newcommand{\D}[1][1={ },usedefault]{{\mathsf{D}_{#1}}} \newcommand{\Dnq}{{\mathsf{D}_{n, Q}}} \newcommand{\dnq}{{\mathsf{d}_{n, Q}}} \newcommand{\dn}{{\mathsf{d}_{n}}} \newcommand{\dnm}{{\mathsf{d}_{n-m}}} \newcommand{\dmn}{{\mathsf{d}_{n+m}}} \newcommand{\dx}{{\mathsf{d}_{\mathbb{X}}}} \providecommand{\med}{\text{median}} \providecommand{\median}{\text{median}} \providecommand{\Xnm}{{\mathbb{X}^*_{n-m}}} $$

Introduction (Week-1)

Math 183 • Statistical Methods • Spring 2026

Siddharth Vishwanath

Course Information

ucsd-math183.github.io/sp26

  • Lectures. Tue/Thu. 3:30–4:50 PM
  • Discussions. Thursday Evenings
  • Midterm. Thu, Apr 30th, 2026
  • Final. Mon, Jun 8th, 2026

Tips on succeeding in this course

Study Habits and Strategies


  • Regular Review vs Cramming:
    • Benefits of spaced repetition and active recall
    • Long-term retention and understanding



  • Active Participation:
    • Engaging in class discussions
    • Collaborative learning and group studies
    • Look at the course policy here

Seeking Help and Utilizing Office Hours

  • Recognizing the Need for Help:
    • It’s okay to ask questions!
    • Encouraging a culture of curiosity and inquiry


  • Office Hours and TA Sessions:
    • Make the most out of one-on-one interactions
    • Collaborating and brainstorming with peers


  • Accommodations:
    • Commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment
    • Students with documented disabilities can request necessary accommodations
    • Processes in place for confidential discussions and implementations

Academic Integrity

Important

  • I’d much rather you ask for help from me or the TAs or discuss with your peers
  • Please acknowledge your sources (if you use any)

FAQs

FAQs

  • How many homeworks will there be?
    • Expect about 7-8 homeworks
  • Will the lectures be podcast-ed?
    • Yes, starting from Week-1 they will be uploaded automatically
  • Are we allowed cheatsheets on the exam
    • Yes. 1 A4/Letter sheet. Both sides are okay. It doesn’t have to be handwritten
  • Will there be make-up exams
    • No. There will be no make-up exams. However, there are two grading schemes in the event you don’t take your midterm
  • Can I submit my assignment late?
    • No.
    • Seriously?
    • Yes. But your lowest score will be dropped! 🙂
  • I sent you an email and didn’t get a response!
    • Please include “[Math 183]” in your subject and CC your TAs

Statistics in the wild

Why Statistics?

  • It’s a discipline centered around data.
    • Collect: Gathering accurate and representative data for study.
    • Describe: Summarizing data to grasp its main characteristics.
    • Visualize: Representing data graphically for better understanding.
    • Analyze: Extracting meaningful insights from data to make informed decisions.


  • Empowered Decision Making:
    • Proactive Choices: Leveraging data to make forward-thinking decisions.
    • Critical Evaluation: Evaluating and scrutinizing decisions others make based on the data.

Examples

Examples

Examples

The Big Picture

A Brief History of Statistics