One day during my early years as a statistician in the food industry, I glanced up to see Ralph in my office doorway. It was obvious his boss had sent him. Statisticians can always (well, given the nature of uncertainty, I should say almost always) tell when someone has been sent: The ears are down and the tail is between the legs. Avoiding eye contact, Ralph asked how many samples I usually took for tomato sauce. Nothing in my statistical education prepared me for that question. I must admit I sat there, mouth agape, for what must have seemed like eternity. Finally, I asked him what he wanted to know about his tomato sauce. He explained that the production department had a warehouse full of tomato sauce and his staff thought some of it might contain accidental inclusions. I thought, what are the chances I have eaten an accidental inclusion? But instead I asked what he meant. He said it was possible some onions got into the tomatoes.
展开▼
