In statistics, the size of a sample is usually denoted by which letter?

In statistics, the size of a sample is conventionally represented by the letter "n." This notation is widely accepted across various statistical texts and methodologies. The letter "n" signifies the count of individual data points or observations within the sample. This distinction is critical in many statistical analyses, such as hypothesis testing, calculating confidence intervals, and determining the significance of results, as it directly influences the conclusions drawn from the data.

The other letters have specific meanings in statistical contexts; for example, "N" generally refers to the population size, which encompasses all members of a defined group. "r" is often used to denote the correlation coefficient, which measures the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables. "s" usually represents the sample standard deviation, a measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. Understanding these distinctions is vital for interpreting statistical analysis accurately.