Head First PHP & MySQL:
Sneak Preview!
Head First PHP & MySQL is coming soon! Be the first to see it with this exclusive peek at Chapter 5. Download the free excerpt from this page!
Don't believe the hype...about databases, that is.
Sure, they work wonders for storing all kinds of data involving text, but what about binary data? You know, stuff like JPEG images and PDF documents. Does it really make sense to store all those pictures of your rare guitar pick collection in a database table? Usually not. That kind of data is typically stored in files, and we'll leave it in files. But it's entirely possible to have your virtual cake and eat it too - this chapter reveals that you can use files and databases together to build PHP applications that are awash in binary data.
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Statistician Extraordinaire:
An Interview with Dawn Griffiths
We sat down with Dawn Griffiths, author of the newly released Head First Statistics, and asked her about her unique approach to the subject. Whether you're taking Stats 101, preparing for the AP Statistics exam, or just curious about statistical analysis, Head First's brain-friendly formula will help you not only master statistics, but show you how you can apply statistical principles in everyday life.
What can we expect in the new Head First Statistics book? What are some of the coolest things learners can do once they've worked through Head First Statistics?
Statistics can be a tricky subject to get to grips with, but Head First
Statistics gives you a really brain-friendly and accessible way into the
subject. It gives you a good grounding in all the key areas, but all
done using the same Head First approach you've seen in other books in
the series. A lot of the coolest action takes place in Fat Dan's Casino.
You get to play roulette, calculate your likely winnings on the slot
machines, and also use your statistical skills to uncover a plot to
infiltrate the casino itself. It's amazing how much you can do by the
end of the book, even if you start out with very little exposure to
statistics.
How do you think the Head First approach to statistics is different from other non-Head First statistics books you've seen and used? How do you think Head First makes statistics easier to learn?
One of the exciting things about writing Head First Statistics was
working out how to take the Head First principles and apply them to an
academic subject like statistics. You see, I didn't just want students
to be in a good position to pass a statistics exam. I wanted them to
really care about the subject, and gain mastery of it. The Head First
approach is excellent for this because of the way it puts you in the hot
seat and engages you. You don't just read a Head First book, you're
actively involved in it, not just with your brain but with your emotions
too. Throughout the book we get you to think deeply and we involve you
in what's going on in each situation. What's more, we don't just give
you statistical formulae and expect you to remember what they are and
how you use them in some abstract way. We show you what's really going
on underneath so that you can see why they're so important and in such a
way that you can apply your knowledge to other situations.
What topic do you think people struggle with most in a typical statistics course? How did you address that topic in a way that will help learners who have struggled before?
A key thing is choosing which probability distribution to use in which situation and why. It's crucial stuff, and yet lots of people struggle with it because it can be confusing. In Head First Statistics, every time you cover a probability distribution, you have a real concrete scenario. Not just an example, but a full-blown scenario with characters and situations and drama and tension, and you're right in the middle of it. Your brain loves stories and loves to be entertained, so by building a little world or story for each distribution, we make sure that some part of your brain remembers when a particular distribution is relevant. That way you can look at a question on an exam paper or some problem your boss has thrown at you and think "Oh yeah, this reminds me of that girl at the dating agency..."
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