Numbers Guide: The Essentials of Business Numeracy, FIFTH EDITION (Economist)

Designed as a companion to "The Economist Style Guide", the best-selling guide to writing style, "The Economist Numbers Guide" is invaluable for everyone who wants to be competent, and able to communicate effectively, with numbers. In addition to general advise on basic numeracy, the guide points out common errors and explains the recognized techniques for solving financial problems, analyzing information of any kind and effective decision making. Over 100 charts, graphs, tables and feature boxes highlight key points. Also included is an A-Z dictionary of terms covering everything from amortization to zero-sum game. Whatever your business, "The Economist Numbers Guide" will prove invaluable. Contents......Page 6 List of figures......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Ways of looking at data......Page 15 Fractions, percentages and proportions......Page 17 Index numbers......Page 23 Notation......Page 26 Probability......Page 30 Counting techniques......Page 36 Encryption......Page 40 Interest......Page 42 Annuities......Page 52 Investment analysis......Page 56 Inflation......Page 60 Interest rate problems in disguise......Page 61 Exchange rates......Page 62 Distributions......Page 66 Normal distributions......Page 74 Tables......Page 83 Charts......Page 86 Summary......Page 97 Time series......Page 98 Trends......Page 103 Seasonal adjustment......Page 107 Residuals......Page 111 Cause and effect......Page 112 Identifying relationships with regression analysis......Page 113 Forecast monitoring and review......Page 122 Estimating statistics and parameters......Page 125 Confidence......Page 130 Other summary measures......Page 133 Non-parametric methods......Page 138 Hypothesis testing......Page 139 Uncertainty and risk......Page 146 Decision trees......Page 150 Perfect information......Page 154 The expected value of sample information......Page 156 Making the final decision......Page 160 Game strategy......Page 166 Queueing......Page 170 Stock control......Page 173 Markov chains: what happens next?......Page 175 Project management......Page 179 Simulation......Page 182 Identifying the optimal solution......Page 184 Multiple objectives......Page 189 Networks......Page 190 A–Z......Page 194 A......Page 196 B......Page 199 C......Page 201 D......Page 208 E......Page 212 F......Page 215 G......Page 216 I......Page 218 L......Page 222 M......Page 223 N......Page 228 O......Page 229 P......Page 230 Q......Page 235 R......Page 236 S......Page 238 T......Page 244 U......Page 246 V......Page 247 W......Page 248 Z......Page 249 C......Page 250 D......Page 251 F......Page 252 I......Page 253 N......Page 254 P......Page 255 S......Page 256 Z......Page 257 Contents 6 List of tables 8 List of figures 8 Introduction 10 1 Key concepts 15 Summary 15 Ways of looking at data 15 Fractions, percentages and proportions 17 Index numbers 23 Notation 26 Probability 30 Counting techniques 36 Encryption 40 2 Finance and investment 42 Summary 42 Interest 42 Annuities 52 Investment analysis 56 Inflation 60 Interest rate problems in disguise 61 Exchange rates 62 3 Descriptive measures for interpretation and analysis 66 Summary 66 Distributions 66 Normal distributions 74 4 Tables and charts 83 Summary 83 Tables 83 Charts 86 5 Forecasting techniques 97 Summary 97 Time series 98 Trends 103 Seasonal adjustment 107 Cycles 111 Residuals 111 Cause and effect 112 Identifying relationships with regression analysis 113 Forecast monitoring and review 122 6 Sampling and hypothesis testing 125 Summary 125 Estimating statistics and parameters 125 Confidence 130 Other summary measures 133 Non-parametric methods 138 Hypothesis testing 139 7 Incorporating judgments into decisions 146 Summary 146 Uncertainty and risk 146 Decision trees 150 Perfect information 154 The expected value of sample information 156 Making the final decision 160 8 Decision-making in action 166 Summary 166 Game strategy 166 Queueing 170 Stock control 173 Markov chains: what happens next? 175 Project management 179 Simulation 182 9 Linear programming and networking 184 Summary 184 Identifying the optimal solution 184 Traps and tricks 189 Multiple objectives 189 Networks 190 A–Z 194 A 196 B 199 C 201 D 208 E 212 F 215 G 216 H 218 I 218 J 222 K 222 L 222 M 223 N 228 O 229 P 230 Q 235 R 236 S 238 T 244 U 246 V 247 W 248 X 249 Y 249 Z 249 Index 250 A 250 B 250 C 250 D 251 E 252 F 252 G 253 H 253 I 253 J 254 K 254 L 254 M 254 N 254 O 255 P 255 Q 256 R 256 S 256 T 257 U 257 V 257 W 257 X 257 Y 257 Z 257 1861975155,9781861975157 Economist Books Designed as a companion to The Economist Style Guide, the best-selling guide to writing style, The Economist Numbers Guide is invaluable for everyone who wants to be competent, and able to communicate effectively, with numbers. In addition to general advise on basic numeracy, the guide points out common errors and explains the recognised techniques for solving financial problems, analysing information of any kind and effective decision making. Over 100 charts, graphs, tables and feature boxes highlight key points. Also included is an A-Z dictionary of terms covering everything from amortisation to zero-sum game. Whatever your business, The Economist Numbers Guide will prove invaluable. The Numbers Guide, now in its fifth edition, is aimed at managers who have budgetary, planning or forecasting responsibilities and is invaluable for everyone who wants to be competent, and able to communicate effectively, with numbers. There are chapters on Key Concepts * Finance and investment * Measures for interpretation and analysisForecasting techniques * Sampling and hypothesis testingIncorporating judgments into decisions * Decision-making Linear programming and networking * How spreadsheet programmes can make it easy. The guide also points out common pitfalls, such as: * On roundi "In addition to general advice on basic numeracy, the guide points out common errors and explains the recognised techniques for solving financial problems, analysing information of any kind and effective decision-making. Over 100 charts, graphs, tables and feature boxes highlight key points. Also included is an A-Z dictionary of terms covering everything from amortisation to zero-sum game."--BOOK JACKET