Why would a statistician use a point estimate instead of just trying to find the relevant population parameter directly? Because finding a population parameter requires integration, while finding a point estimate does not. Because a point estimate can be calculated from a sample of a larger population, so the relevant information required is easier to gather. Because a point estimate can be calculated from a sample of a larger population, so it will be identical to the population parameter. Because finding a population parameter requires differentiation, while finding a point estimate does not