The document discusses time series analysis and its key components. It defines a time series as a set of data points indexed (or listed or graphed) in time order. A time series collects readings of a variable at evenly-spaced periods of time. It notes that time is the independent variable while the data is the dependent variable. The document outlines the main components of time series as trends, seasonal variations, cyclical variations, and irregular variations. It provides examples and discusses methods for measuring each component, including free hand curve, semi-average, moving average, and least squares. The purposes and importance of time series analysis are also highlighted.