MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY AND OTHER POSITIONAL MEASURES

After knowing how to present data in tables and graphs, we must be able to describe them in terms of a single value, called the measure of central tendency, which gives a summary of the characteristics of a given set of data. The most commonly used measures of central tendency are the arithmetic mean or simply the mean, the median, and the mode. MEAN One of the simplest and the most efficient measures of central tendency, the mean is the sum of all the given values or items in a distribution divided by the number of values or items summed. Mean for Ungrouped Data To compute the mean for ungrouped data, we shall let x be the value of the mean, then by definition, we have: x = sum of all the values in the distribution n = number of values in the distribution

Example: 1. Find the mean of 15, 20, 18, 35, 47, 39, 25, 29, 33, 22 Solution: X=

x
n

15 + 20 + 18 + 35 + 47 + 39 + 25 + 29 + 33 + 22 283 = 10 10

= 28.3

2. The ages of 12 students in a certain class were taken and shown: 21, 18, 22, 23, 18, 19, 17, 21, 20, 17, 16, and 24. Determine the mean age of the students. Solution: X=

x
n

21 + 18 + 22 + 23 + 18 + 19 + 17 + 21 + 20 + 17 + 16 + 24 236 = = 19.67 12 12

Weighted Mean In the computation of the mean of a set of data, there are some instances where each value in the distribution is associated with a certain weight or degree of importance called weighted mean. To compute the weighted mean, we have formulas:

x =

f 1 x 1 + f 2 x 2 + ... + x n f 1 + f 2 + ... + f n

or

x=

1 N

f
i =1

xi

where N =

f
i =1

Or simply

x =

f x N

where:

x = represent each of the items or value f = frequency of each item n = total number of frequency or

x =

w 1 x 1 + w 2 x 2 + ... + x n w 1 + w 2 + ... + w n

x=

w x N

where: Examples : 1.

x = represent each of the items or value w = frequency of each item n = total number of weight

xi
72 65 62 60 56 53 47 36
f x N

fi
3 5 2 7 12 8 6 8

fi x i
216 325 124 420 672 424 282 288

N = 51

f 5 i x i = 2, 7 1

x =

2,751 = 53 .94 51

2. A college student was taking six courses during one semester. His final grades were : Analytic Geometry : Physics : English : Humanities : Solid mensuration : Find his average grade. Solution : 1.75 2.25 2.50 1.75 2.00 3 unit credit 4 unit credit 3 unit credit 3 unit credit 2 unit credit

x=

(1.75 )( 3) + ( 2.25 )( 4) + ( 2.50 )( 3) + (1.75 )( 3) + ( 2.00 )( 2) = 2.07 15

3. Three groups consisting of 20, 25, and 40 students reported the mean weights of 60, 63 and 65 kg. Find the mean weight of all students. Solution :

x=

(20 )( 60 ) + (25 )( 63 ) + ( 40 )( 65 ) 5, 375 = = 63.24 85 85

Mean for Grouped Data For grouped data, the mean is computed by the formula,

x =

f x n

where: x = class mark f = corresponding frequency in each class n = total number of scores or observations Example 1. On arriving in Boracay, a sample of 60 vacationers asked their ages by the tourist Bureau. The sample information is organized into the following frequency distribution. Compute the mean age. Age 11 20 21 30 31 40 41 50 51 60 61 70 71 80 Number of Vacationers (frequency) 5 7 12 22 8 4 2 Class Mark 15.5 25.5 35.5 45.5 55.5 65.5 75.5 fx 77.5 178.5 426.0 1,001.0 444.0 262.0 151.0

n = f = 60

f x = 2,540

To solve for the mean age :

x=

f x

2,540 = 42.33 60

Thus, the mean age of vacationers is 42.33 Coding or Deviation Method of Finding Mean The alternative method of computing the value of mean for grouped data is the Coding or Deviation Method, a method using unit deviations instead of midpoints. The first step in this method is to consider an arbitrary point, called midpoint of any class interval, in approximating the value of the mean. For conventional purposes, however, the midpoint of the class interval with the highest frequency shall be the arbitrary value and shall be called the assumed mean. The interval containing the assumed mean shall be referred to as the mean class. The next step is to construct the unit deviation column by assigning a deviation value of 0 to assumed class mean and the other class marks with successive integers.

The third step is to multiply the frequency by their corresponding unit deviations. The products are added and the sum is divided by the sample size. The result is then multiplied by the size of the class interval. The final step is to determine the sum of the assumed mean and the product of the class interval and summation of the frequency multiplied by the unit deviation divided by n. Hence the formula will be:

fd x = xo + c n
Where: observations d = unit deviation Using Example 1. Age 11 20 21 30 31 40 41 50 51 60 61 70 71 80 Number of Vacationers (frequency) 5 7 12 22 8 4 2 Class Mark (x) 15.5 25.5 35.5 45.5 55.5 65.5 75.5 n = 60 xo d -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f d

x0 = assumed mean C = size of the class interval ( class size ) f = frequency of each class n = total number of scores or

-15 -14 -12 0 8 8 6

f d = 19

19 x = 45 .5 + 10 60

fd x = xo + c n

x =4 .3 2 3

Example 2: Solve for the mean score of the given distribution Solution 1 : Scores 27.5 - 30.5 24.5 - 27.5 21.5 - 24.5 18.5 - 21.5 15.5 - 18.5 12.5 - 15.5 9.5 - 12.5 6.5 - 9.5 Frequency 7 10 23 37 33 27 18 5 n =160 = Class Mark 29 26 23 20 17 14 11 8 fx 203 260 529 740 561 378 198 40 2909
x = 8 .1 1 8

x=
Solution : Scores 27.5 - 30.5 24.5 - 27.5 21.5 - 24.5 18.5 - 21.5 15.5 - 18.5 12.5 - 15.5 9.5 - 12.5 6.5 - 9.5

f x

2,909 = 18.18 160

Frequency 7 10 23 37 xo 33 27 18 5 160

Class Mark 29 26 23 20 17 14 11 8

d 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4

fd 21 20 23 0 -33 -54 -54 -20 -97

97 x = 20 + 3 160
x = 8 .1 1 8

fd x = xo + c n

MEDIAN To determine the median, we usually arrange the data in increasing or decreasing order. If the number of values of data is odd, then the median is the data value exactly in the middle of

the ordered list. If the number of values of data is even, then the median is the mean of the two middle values in the ordered list. Example: 1. Find the: median of the following scores obtain by seven students in statistics if their scores were 79, 82, 94, 85, 80, 78, 88 Solution : Arrange the scores in ascending order : 78, 79, 80, 82, 85, 88, 94

Since the number of values is odd the middle score is 82, therefore the median in this group is 82. 2. Find the median of the following values :23, 29, 35, 27, 30, 26, 34, 20 Solution : Arrange the scores in ascending order : 20, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35

27 + 29 = 28 2

The median is 28. Median far Grouped Data For grouped data, in the form of a frequency distribution, the formula used to find the median is:

n f m 1 2 C Median = L m + fm

Where:

Lm

= refers to the lower boundary of the median class = cumulative frequency before that of the median class = frequency of the median class n = total number of scores or observations C = size of the class interval ( class size )

f m 1
fm

To be able to apply the formula, we shall follow the steps below. 1. Get of the total number of value. 2. Determine the value of cumulative frequency 3. Determine the median class. 4. Determine the lower boundary and the frequency of the median class and the size of the class interval. Example 1. Find the median of the given distribution table.

Age 11 20 21 30 31 40 41 50 51 60 61 70 71 80 Solution :

Frequency 5 7 12 22 8 4 2

Class Boundaries 10.5 20.5 20.5 30.5 30.5 40.5 40.5 50.5 50.5 60.5 60.5 70.5 70.5 80.5

<cf 5 12 24 46 median class 54 58 60

Determine the median class :

n 60 = = 30 , the 30th of the data is in the fourth class with interval 40 50 2 2 L m = 40 .5

f m 1 = 24
f m = 22
C = 10
n f m 1 2 C Median = L m + fm 30 24 Median = 40 .5 + ( 10 ) 22
M edian = 43 .23

Example 2 . Compute the median sale of Aling Milings Store in a given month with the following frequency distribution : Sales P 1,000 1,999 P 2,000 2,999 P 3,000 3,999 P 4,000 4,999 P 5,000 5,999 P 6,000 6,999 P 7,000 7,999 Number of Days ( f) 2 3 6 8 7 2 2 Class Boundaries 999.5 1,999.5 1,999.5 2,999.5 2,999.5 3,999.5 3,999.5 4,999.5 4,999.5 5,999.5 5,999.5 6,999.5 6,999.5 7,999.5 <cf 2 5 11 19 26 28 30 Median class

Solution : Determine the median class :

30 = 15, the 15th of the data is in the fourth class with interval P 4,000 4,999 2 2 Lm = 3,999 .50 fm = 8 f m 1 = 11
=

C = 1,000
15 11 Median = 3,999 .5 + (1,000 ) 8

Median = P 4, 499.5.
MODE The mode of a set observations is the value that occurs most often or with the greatest frequency, Mode for Ungrouped Data In the case of ungrouped data, the value of the mode can be obtained through inspection. The mode may or may not exist. If it exists, it can be more than one value. Example: Consider the following, sets of measurements. Find the mode of each set. x: 13, 14, 15, 20, 17, 24, 19, 28 y: 15, 18, 21, 18, 23, 17, 20, 25 z: 22, 29, 30, 27, 29, 34, 33, 22 mode = 28 mode = 18 mode = 22, 29

Mode of Grouped Data For grouped data, the mode is the midpoint or class mark of the interval with the highest frequency. This class interval is called the modal class. The mode obtained in the manner is called a crude mode because a rough approximation of the actual mode. To improve the computation, we use the formula:

fmo f1 Mo = L mo + 2f f f mo 1 2

Where: L mo = l ower boundary of the modal class fmo = frequency of the modal class f1 = frequency of the class preceding the modal class f2 = frequency of the class following the modal class C = class size of the modal class Example : Using the frequency distribution in example 1, find the mode. Age 11 20 21 30 31 40 41 50 Number of Vacationers (frequency) 5 7 12 22

51 60 61 70 71 80 Solution : fmo = 22

8 4 2

f1 =12

f2 =8

fmo f1 Mo = L mo + 2f f f mo 1 2

22 12 Mo = 40 .5 + 2 ( 22 ) 12 8 (10 ) M = 44 .67 o
Example 2: Using Example 2 on page 14, consider the given frequency distribution table, find the mode. Sales P 1,000 1,999 P 2,000 2,999 P 3,000 3,999 P 4,000 4,999 P 5,000 5,999 P 6,000 6,999 P 7,000 7,999 Number of Days ( f) 2 3 6 8 7 2 2

Solution :

fmo = 8

f1 =6

f2 =7

fmo f1 Mo = L mo + 2f f f mo 1 2

8 6 Mo = 3,999 .5 + , 2 ( 8 ) 6 7 (1000 ) M = P 4, 666 .17 o

QUANTILES The idea of the median can be extended to the discussion of quantiles.Quantiles are value which divide the distribution into a given number of equal parts. Other types of quantiles included in this section are the quartiles, deciles, and the percentiles or centiles. Quartiles The quartiles divide the distribution into four equal parts. These are 3 quartiles represented as Q1, Q2 and Q3. The value of Q1 refers to the value in the distribution that falls on the first one-fourth (1/4) of the distribution arranged based on magnitude. Q 2 value corresponds to the median. The last, Q3, refers to three-fourths (3/4) of the distribution.

Take note of the following corresponding values :

Q1 = 25 P D1 = 10 P D 2 = 20 P

Q 2 =P50 =D 5 D 3 = 30 P

Q 3 =P75 D 8 = 80 P

For grouped data, the computing formula for the kth quartile where k = 1, 2, 3 is given by: N cf <Q1 4 C Q1 = L Q1 + f Q1 Where

L Q1 = lower boundary containing the quartile class

cf <Q1 = cumulative frequency preceding the class containing the quartile

fQ1 = frequency of the class where the
C = class size 3N cf <Q3 Q 3 = L Q3 + 4 f Q3 Where
n 4

th item is found

L Q3 = lower boundary containing the quartile class

cf <Q3 = cumulative frequency preceding the class containing the quartile

f Q3 = frequency of the class where the
C = class size
3n 4

th item is found

Deciles If a given set of data is divided into ten equal parts, then we have nine points of division known as deciles. The nine points of division are denoted as D1, D2, D3, up to D9. the first decile or D1 is the value at or below one-tenth (1/10) of all items in the distribution. For grouped data, the computing formula for deciles

Where :

n ( N) cf <D n D n = L D + 10 n fD n

C
C=

L D n = lower boundary containing the decile class

class size

fDn = frequency of the class where the

number of observations

n 1 0

th item is found

N = total

cf <Dn = cumulative frequency preceding the class containing the quartile

Percentiles Percentiles refer to those values that divide a distribution into one hundred equal parts. Theres a 99 percentiles represented as P1, P2, P3 , up to P99. The computing formula for percentile is similar to that of the median, quartile, or decile. n (N) cf <Pn C Pn = L P n + 100 fP n

L P n = lower boundary containing the percentile class cf <Pn = cumulative frequency preceding the class containing the percentile fP n = frequency of the class where the
C = class size N = total number of observations Example : Compute the Q1, Q3, D1, D7, P12, P35 Age 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 frequency 5 7 12 22 8 4 2 n = 60 < cf 5 12 24 46 54 58 60
n 100

th item is found

a. To determine the class containing Q1, we compute Q1 is in the

n 60 = = 15 , then the class containing 4 4

interval 31 40 , LQ1 = 30.5, cf <Q1 = 12, fQ1 = 12, C = 10

N cf <Q1 4 C Q1 = L Q1 + f Q1 15 12 Q1 = 30 .5 + (10 ) . 12

Q1 = 33

b.

To determine the class containing Q3, we compute

3n 3( 60 ) = = 45 , then the class 4 4

containing Q3 is 41 50,

L Q 3 = 40.5, cf <Q
Q 3 = L Q3

= 24,

fQ3 = 22
C

3N cf <Q3 + 4 f Q3

45 24 Q 3 = 40 .5 + (10 ) 22 Q3 = 50 .05
c. To determine the class containing D1 , we compute containing D1 is 21 30.

n (N) = 1 ( 60 ) = 6 , then the class 10 10

L D1 = 20.5,

c f

< D

= 5, fD1 = 7, C = 10

Dn = L D n

n (N) cf <Dn 10 + fD n

1 ( 60 ) 5 10 (10 ) D1 = 20 .5 + 7

6 5 D1 = 20 .5 + (10 ) 7 D1 = 21.93

d. To determine the class containing D7, we compute containing D7 is 41 50,

n (N) = 7 ( 60 ) = 42 , then the class 10 10

L D12 = 40.5,

c f

< D

=24, fD7 = 22, C = 10

Dn = L D n

n (N) cf <Dn + 10 fD n

C 42 24 D 7 = 40 .5 + (10 ) 22

D7

7 ( 60 ) 24 = 40 .5 + 10 22

(10 )

D7 = 48.68

d. To determine the class containing P12, we compute class containing P12 is 21 30.

n (N) = 12 ( 60 ) = 7.2 , then the 100 100

L P 12 = 20.5,

c f

< P

1 2

= 5, fP12 = 7, C = 10.
C

Pn = L P n

n (N) cf <Pn + 100 fP n

P12

12 = 20 .5 + 100

( 60 ) 5 (10 )
7

P12 = 23.64 e. To determine the class containing P35, we compute class containing P35 is 31 40,

n (N) = 35 ( 60 ) = 21 , then the 100 100

L P 35 = 30.5,

c < f P

3 5

= 12, fP35 = 12, C = 10

Pn = L P n

n (N) cf <Pn + 100 fP n

P35

35 = 30 .5 + 100

(60 ) 12
12

(10 )

21 12 P35 = 30 .5 + (10 ) 12

P35 = 38 MEASURES OF VARIATION