What is Anscombe's Quartet?

Anscombe's Quartet is a mental model used for better thinking and decision-making.

How do you apply Anscombe's Quartet?

To apply Anscombe's Quartet, identify situations where this framework is relevant, then use it as a lens to evaluate your options and decisions. The model is most useful when combined with other complementary mental models.

What category does Anscombe's Quartet fall under?

Anscombe's Quartet falls under the Mathematics & Probability category of mental models. Other models in this category can be found on the Mathematics & Probability hub page.

Why is Anscombe's Quartet important?

Anscombe's Quartet is important because it provides a structured way to think about problems that would otherwise be approached with intuition alone. Understanding this model helps you avoid common reasoning errors and make better decisions.

Where does Anscombe's Quartet come from?

Anscombe's Quartet is discussed in the tradition of Francis Anscombe.

Mathematics & Probability

Anscombe's Quartet

Model #0773Category: Mathematics & ProbabilitySource: Francis AnscombeDepth to apply:

4 min read

Contents

1. Core Idea
2. How to See It
3. How to Use It
4. Founders & Leaders
5. Connected Models
6. One Key Quote
7. Summary & Further Reading

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Mathematics & Probability

Section 1

Core Idea

Anscombe's Quartet is a set of four datasets that share nearly identical summary statistics — same mean, variance, correlation, and regression line — yet look completely different when graphed. It demonstrates a critical principle: summary statistics can conceal the structure of your data. Two datasets can have the same average and the same trendline while one is linear, one is curved, one is driven by a single outlier, and one has no real relationship at all. The lesson for decision-makers is that relying on metrics without visualizing the underlying data is a reliable path to wrong conclusions.