What is a placebo and why is it important?

A placebo is a fake put into place in order to make a user believe something is happening when it is not.

Step-by-step explanation:

A placebo is a fake put into place in order to make a user believe something is happening when it is not. This is used often in medicine, where a doctor may tell a patient they are receiving treatment for some condition, but in fact they are getting nothing. Often times this can actually make a change for the patient due to simply believing they are getting treatment. The placebo effect is also used in Statistics, with 2 groups, one getting the treatment, and one simply receiving a placebo. This is helpful because it shows the effect of treatment or medication more accurately.