Fundamentals for Data Science, Vol. I

Volume I of this two-volume series lays the foundational pillars of data science, combining statistical theory, mathematical essentials, and practical computing skills required for modern data analysis.

Volume I of this two-volume series lays the foundational pillars of data science, combining statistical theory, mathematical essentials, and practical computing skills required for modern data analysis. Designed as a comprehensive entry point, this volume equips readers with the conceptual and computational tools needed to understand, explore, and model data before progressing to advanced machine learning and high-dimensional methods. The volume begins with hands-on introductions to R and Python, enabling readers with no prior programming experience to immediately engage in data exploration and analysis. Core probabilistic and statistical concepts probability theory, probability distributions, sampling, and parametric inference are developed systematically, ensuring a strong analytical backbone for data-driven reasoning. Essential mathematical tools, particularly linear algebra, are presented in an intuitive manner tailored to data science applications. Emphasis is placed on exploratory data analysis, regression modeling, causal inference, and business-oriented statistical modeling, supported throughout by real-world case studies and applied examples. Mathematical rigor is balanced with intuition, and every major concept is reinforced using executable R and Python code. This volume is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and practitioners seeking a structured and application-driven introduction to data science and business analytics. It serves as both a classroom-ready textbook and a self-study reference, preparing readers for advanced modeling techniques covered in Volume II.