INTRODUCTION TO R PROGRAMMING

We have pleasure to present this text book on “Introduction
to R Programming” for students of Mathematics S. Y. B.Sc.
(Semester – IV). This book is written according to new revised
syllabus of Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University,
Nanded (MS). Implemented from June 2025.
The exponential growth of data in recent years has
revolutionized the way we think, analyze, and make decisions across
disciplines. In this data-driven era, the ability to understand and
process data is not just an advantage—it’s essential. R, a powerful
open-source statistical programming language, has become a
cornerstone tool for statisticians, data analysts, researchers, and
educators worldwide. It provides a flexible, extensible, and
comprehensive platform for statistical analysis, data manipulation,
and graphical representation.
This book, Introduction to R Programming, is designed to
guide students, educators, and budding data scientists through the
fundamental concepts and practical applications of R. It serves as a
beginner-friendly yet thorough resource, aimed at making readers
confident in handling real-world data analysis tasks using R.
Structured across five comprehensive chapters, this book
starts with the basics—introducing the R environment and its
graphical user interface—before moving into foundational concepts
such as variables, data types, and data structures. Emphasis is placed
on data loading and handling techniques, including the use of CSV
and Excel files, working directories, and dealing with missing data—
skills essential for any practical data project.
A strong focus is given to Descriptive Statistics, allowing
learners to explore, summarize, and visualize data using a wide range
of R functions and packages. This section helps build the statistical
thinking necessary to draw insights from datasets, supported by hands-

on visualizations like histograms, pie charts, box plots, and bar charts.
The heart of this book lies in the Practical Applications
section. Through a series of well-explained and structured programs,
learners gain experience in performing arithmetic operations,
manipulating vectors and matrices, exporting/importing data, and
generating meaningful plots using ggplot2. Real-world case studies
and examples are incorporated to bridge the gap between theory and
practice, with particular attention to applications both globally and
within the Indian context.
This book is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate
students, educators, and early-career researchers in statistics, data
science, economics, and allied disciplines. It also serves as a practical
reference for anyone who wishes to begin their journey in R
programming and data analysis.
We hope this book empowers readers to explore the vast
possibilities of R and develop confidence in their data exploration
journey. Whether you’re using R to analyze birth weights or visualize
national survey data, this book is your companion in transforming raw
data into meaningful knowledge.