S1 Averages and Measures of Dispersion

S1 Measures of Dispersion
Objectives: To be able to find the median and quartiles for discrete data To be able to find the median and quartiles for continuous data using interpolation

Can you work out the rule for finding median and quartiles from discrete data?

12345 123456 1234567 12345678 123456789 Can you spot any rules for n amount of numbers in a list?

LQ 1.5

Median 3

UQ 4.5

LQ n/4 If n/4 is a whole number find the mid point of corresponding term and the term above If n is not a whole number, round the number up and find the corresponding term

UQ 3n/4 If 3n/4 is a whole number find the mid point of corresponding term and the term above If n is not a whole number, round the number up and find the corresponding term

Median n/2 If n/2 is a whole number find the midpoint of the corresponding term and the term above If n/2 is not a whole number, round up and find the corresponding term

Calculate the mean, median and inter quartile range from a table of discrete data
Number of Number of CDs(x) students (f)

35 36 37 38 39

3 17 29 34 12

Mean = fx f

Calculate the mean, median and inter quartile range from a table of discrete data
Number of CDs(x) Number of students (f) Cumulative frequency

35
36 37

3
17 29

3
20 49 83 95

Median = n/2 Median = 95/2 = 47.5 = 48th value Median = 37 CDs LQ = 95/4 = 23.75 LQ = 24th value LQ (Q1) = 37 CDs UQ (Q3) = 95/4 x 3 = 71.25

38
39

34
12

UQ = 72nd value
IQR = Q3-Q1 = 38-37=1 UQ (Q3) = 38 CDs

Calculate the mean, median and inter quartile range from a table of continuous data
Length of flower stem (mm) Number of flowers (f) Cumulative frequency

Median = n/2 We do not need to do any rounding because we are dealing with continuous data Median = 70/2 = 35th value This lies in the 3436 class but we dont know the exact value of the term

30-31 32-33 34-36 37-39

2 25 30 13

2 27 57 70

Using interpolation to find an estimate for the median

33.5mm 27

m 35

36.5mm

57

m 33.5 = 35 - 27 36.5 33.5 = 57 - 27

m 33.5 = 8 3 30 m 33.5 = 0.26 x 3 m = 33.5 + 0.8 = 34.3

Using interpolation to find an estimate for the lower quartile

LQ = 70/4 = 17.5 (in the 32-33 group)

31.5mm 2

Q1 17.5

33.5mm

27

Q1 31.5 = 17.5 - 2 33.5 31.5 = 27 - 2

Q1 31.5 = 15.5 2 25 Q1 31.5 = 0.62 x 2 Q1 = 31.5 + 1.24 = 32.74

Using interpolation to find an estimate for the upper quartile

UQ = 70/4x3 = 52.5 (in the 34-36 group)

33.5mm 27

Q3 52.5

36.5mm

57

Q3 33.5 = 52.5 - 27 36.5 33.5 = 57 - 27

Q3 33.5 = 25.5 3 30 Q3 33.5 = 0.85 x 3 Q1 = 33.5 + 2.55 = 36.05

Summary of rules
n = total frequency w = class width fB = cumulative frequency below median/lq/uq fU = cumulative frequency above median/lq/uq Median = LB + n fB x w fU - fB

LQ

= LB + n fB x w fU - fB
= LB + n fB x w fU - fB

UQ

The lengths of a batch of 2000 rods were measured to the nearest cm. The measurements are summarised below. Length Number of Cumulative Q1=74.5 + 500-250 x 5 (nearest cm) rods frequency

60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-94 95-99

11 49 190 488 632 470 137 23

738-250

11 60 250 738 1370 1840 1977 2000

Q1=77.06
Q2=79.5+1000-738 x 5 1370-738 Q2=81.57 Q3=84.5+1500-1370 x 5 1840-1370 Q3=85.88

By altering the formula slightly can you work out how to find the 3rd decile (D3) and the 67th percentile (P67)?

Answers
D3=74.5 + 600-250 x 5 738-250 D3=78.09

P67=79.5 + 1340-738 x 5 1370-738 P67=84.26