Characteristic p refers to a specific property or feature that distinguishes a particular group or category within a broader context. In mathematics, for example, it often relates to prime numbers, where characteristic p indicates a field or algebraic structure that has a prime number as its characteristic. This concept is crucial in areas like abstract algebra and number theory. In the context of statistics, characteristic p can also refer to the p-value, which helps determine the significance of results in hypothesis testing. A low p-value suggests that the observed data is unlikely under the null hypothesis, indicating potential evidence against it. Understanding characteristic p is essential for interpreting results in various scientific fields.