Final answer:
A statistic is a numerical characteristic of a sample that estimates a population parameter, and it is an essential element of statistical analysis in high school or introductory college statistics courses.
Step-by-step explanation:
A statistic is defined as a numerical characteristic of a sample, which in turn estimates the corresponding population parameter. It is a core component of statistics, which is often taught as part of a one-year statistics course in high school or introductory college classes. The goal is to provide comprehensive coverage of statistical concepts. There are two main types of statistics: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics summarize data, such as calculating the mean or median of a data set, whereas inferential statistics involve making predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample of data from that population. An example of inferential statistics would be to estimate a population defect rate from a sample defect rate in a production context.