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What is SciPy and Why Use It?

SciPy (pronounced Sigh Pie) is an open-source Python library built on top of NumPy, designed for scientific and technical computing.

It extends NumPy by adding advanced tools for mathematics, statistics, optimization, integration, and signal processing — all within one powerful package.

Think of NumPy as your toolbox for basic calculations, and SciPy as the full workshop where you solve real-world scientific problems.


Why Use SciPy?​

SciPy is popular among scientists, engineers, and data analysts because it offers:

  • Comprehensive functionality – modules for optimization, linear algebra, statistics, signal and image processing, and more
  • Full NumPy integration – works seamlessly with NumPy arrays and methods
  • Speed and efficiency – powered by optimized C, C++, and Fortran code
  • Excellent documentation – clear examples and in-depth references for every function

Calculating a Statistical Measure​

SciPy makes it easy to calculate statistical measures like the z-score.

A z-score tells you how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean.

Example: Using SciPy to Calculate a Z-score
from scipy import stats
import numpy as np

# Example dataset
data = [10, 12, 9, 15, 14, 10, 13]

# Calculate z-scores
z_scores = stats.zscore(data)
print(z_scores)

This example uses scipy.stats.zscore() to calculate how far each value is from the mean, expressed in standard deviations.

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