Book excerpt: Unleash the power of Python for your data analysis projects with For Dummies! Python is the preferred programming language for data scientists and combines the best features of Matlab, Mathematica, and R into libraries specific to data analysis and visualization. Python for Data Science For Dummies shows you how to take advantage of Python programming to acquire, organize, process, and analyze large amounts of information and use basic statistics concepts to identify trends and patterns. You’ll get familiar with the Python development environment, manipulate data, design compelling visualizations, and solve scientific computing challenges as you work your way through this user-friendly guide. Covers the fundamentals of Python data analysis programming and statistics to help you build a solid foundation in data science concepts like probability, random distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression models Explains objects, functions, modules, and libraries and their role in data analysis Walks you through some of the most widely-used libraries, including NumPy, SciPy, BeautifulSoup, Pandas, and MatPlobLib Whether you’re new to data analysis or just new to Python, Python for Data Science For Dummies is your practical guide to getting a grip on data overload and doing interesting things with the oodles of information you uncover.