NOVA

Prediction by the Numbers

Season 45 Episode 6 | 53m 31s

Predictions underlie nearly every aspect of our lives, from sports, politics, and medical decisions to the morning commute. With the explosion of digital technology, the internet, and “big data,” the science of forecasting is flourishing. But why do some predictions succeed spectacularly while others fail abysmally? And how can we find meaningful patterns amidst chaos and uncertainty?

Aired: 01/24/18 | Expired: 02/02/21 | Rating: TV-G

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS viewers. Major funding for this program is provided by Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation initiative. Additional funding is provided by Margaret and Will Hearst.

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Extras From This Episode

• Prediction by the Numbers Prologue

  Preview: S45 Ep6 | 1m 12s

• What is a P-Value?

  Clip: S45 Ep6 | 4m 12s

• The Wisdom of the Crowds

  Clip: S45 Ep6 | 3m 38s

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