mathematics

Paleontological Statistics

Paleontological Statistics is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Paleontological Statistics rather than just read about it. In short: PAST (PAleontological STatistics) is a free software package for statistical data analysis with a focus on palaeontological data. Development PAST's predecessor was PALSTAT, developed by palaeontologists David Harper (University of Copenhagen) and Paul Ryan (National University of Ireland), first for BBC Microcomputer and later for MS-DOS.

Key takeaways

Paleontological Statistics belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Paleontological Statistics to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Paleontological Statistics from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PAST (PAleontological STatistics) is a free software package for statistical data analysis with a focus on palaeontological data.

Development PAST's predecessor was PALSTAT, developed by palaeontologists David Harper (University of Copenhagen) and Paul Ryan (National University of Ireland), first for BBC Microcomputer and later for MS-DOS. The development of PAST started in 1999, the development team consisted of Harper, Ryan as well as Øyvind Hammer (University of Oslo), who is still the maintainer today.

Functions and operation PAST includes functions for data management, data visualisation through graphics, univariate and multivariate analysis procedures as well as linear and non-linear modelling. There are also functions for diversity calculation, time series analysis, geostatistical and stratigraphic analysis. The operation is basically mouse-controlled. In addition, control via syntax scripts is provided, using a Pascal-like script language.

Usage PAST was used for studies in paleontology, forensics, archaeology or microbiology. The software was recommended because it is "... designed specifically for paleontologists" and "... incorporates a vast majority of analytical methods suitable for paleontological and current ecological work".

References

Further reading Hammer, Øyvind; Harper, David A.T. (2006), Paleontological Data Analysis, Malden/Oxford/Carlton: Blackwell, ISBN 978-0-470-75071-1 Hammer, Øyvind; Harper, David A.T.; Ryan, Paul D. (2001), "PAST: Paleontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis." (PDF), Palaeontologia Electronica, vol. 4, no. 1 Hammer, Øyvind (2023), PAST - PAleontological STatistics, Version 4.13, Reference manual. (PDF), retrieved 2023-05-10

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Paleontological Statistics

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Paleontological Statistics claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Paleontological Statistics before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Paleontological Statistics ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Paleontological Statistics

In research: Paleontological Statistics appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Paleontological Statistics in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Paleontological Statistics is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Free statistical software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Paleontological Statistics outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Paleontological Statistics in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Paleontological Statistics means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Paleontological Statistics out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Paleontological Statistics in simple terms?

PAST (PAleontological STatistics) is a free software package for statistical data analysis with a focus on palaeontological data. Development PAST's predecessor was PALSTAT, developed by palaeontologists David Harper (University of Copenhagen) and Paul Ryan (National University of Ireland), first f…

Why does Paleontological Statistics matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Paleontological Statistics?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Paleontological Statistics.