The correct answer is (c) summarize data; determine if the results from the sample can be applied to the population.
Descriptive statistics is concerned with describing and summarizing data, such as measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of variability (range, variance, standard deviation). The goal of descriptive statistics is to provide a summary of the data in a way that is understandable and meaningful.
Inferential statistics, on the other hand, is concerned with making inferences or predictions about a population based on a sample of data. Inferential statistics uses probability theory and statistical models to analyze data and draw conclusions about the population from the sample.
In other words, descriptive statistics provides a summary of the data while inferential statistics uses the summary statistics to make predictions about the population.