What numbers and measurements actually tell us

Numbers can make a claim clearer, but they do not remove the need for interpretation. Before a number can answer a question, someone must decide what to count, how to count it, and what to compare it with.

A useful reading of a measurement begins with its meaning. This lesson examines definitions, totals, rates, averages, and uncertainty. These checks help you understand a result without either trusting numbers automatically or dismissing them because they are imperfect.