Find Mean, Median, Modal Class

from Grouped Data

 Mean from a Frequency Table
Calculating the Mean: If there are large amounts of data, it is
easier if it is displayed in a frequency table.

Example 1.
The number of goals scored by Premier League teams over a weekend was
recorded in a table. Calculate the mean and the mode.

Goals x Frequency, f fx
0 2 0
1 4 4 Mean = ∑fx
2 8 16 ∑f
3 3 9
= 42 = 2.1
4 2 8
20
5 1 5
∑f= 20 ∑fx= 42 Probably
Mode Middlesbrough and
Sunderland
 Grouped Data
Large quantities of data can be much more easily viewed and managed if
placed in groups in a frequency table. Grouped data does not enable
exact values for the mean, median and mode to be calculated. Alternate
methods of analyising the data have to be employed.

Example 1.
During 3 hours at Heathrow airport 55 aircraft arrived late. The number of
minutes they were late is shown in the grouped frequency table below.

Data is minutes late frequency

grouped 0 - 10 27
into 6 class 10 - 20 10
intervals of
20 - 30 7
width 10.
30 - 40 5
40 - 50 4
50 - 60 2
 Grouped Data
Estimating the Mean: An estimate for the mean can be obtained by
assuming that each of the raw data values takes the midpoint value of
the interval in which it has been placed.

Example 1.
During 3 hours at Heathrow airport 55 aircraft arrived late. The number of
minutes they were late is shown in the grouped frequency table below.

minutes Late Frequency,f midpoint(x) fx

0 - 10 27 5 135
10 - 20 10 15 150
20 - 30 7 25 175
30 - 40 5 35 175
40 - 50 4 45 180
50 - 60 2 55 110
f  55 f x  925
Mean estimate = 925/55 = 16.8 minutes
 Grouped Data
The Modal Class

The modal class is simply the class interval of highest frequency.

Example 1.
During 3 hours at Heathrow airport 55 aircraft arrived late. The number of
minutes they were late is shown in the grouped frequency table below.

minutes late frequency Modal class = 0 - 10

0 - 10 27
10 - 20 10
20 - 30 7
30 - 40 5
40 - 50 4
50 - 60 2
 Grouped Data
The Median Class Interval

The Median Class Interval is the class interval containing the

median.
Example 1.
During 3 hours at Heathrow airport 55 aircraft arrived late. The number of
minutes they were late is shown in the grouped frequency table below.

minutes late frequency

0 - 10 27 (55+1)/2
= 28
10 - 20 10
20 - 30 7
30 - 40 5
40 - 50 4
50 - 60 2

The 28th data value is in the 10 - 20

class
 Grouped Data
Example 2.
A group of University students took part in a sponsored race. The number of
laps completed is given in the table below. Use the information to:
(a) Calculate an estimate for the mean number of laps.
(b) Determine the modal class.
(c) Determine the class interval containing the median.

number of laps frequency (x)

1-5 2
6 – 10 9
Data is
11 – 15 15
grouped
into 8 class 16 – 20 20
intervals of 21 – 25 17
width 4. 26 – 30 25
31 – 35 2
36 - 40 1
 Grouped Data
Example 2.
A group of University students took part in a sponsored race. The number of
laps completed is given in the table below. Use the information to:
(a) Calculate an estimate for the mean number of laps.
(b) Determine the modal class.
(c) Determine the class interval containing the median.

number of laps frequency midpoint(x) mp x f

1-5 2 3 6
6 – 10 9 8 72
11 – 15 15 13 195
16 – 20 20 18 360
21 – 25 17 23 391
26 – 30 25 28 700
31 – 35 2 33 66
36 - 40 1 38 38
f  91  fx  1828
Mean estimate = 1828/91 = 20.1 laps
 Grouped Data
Example 2.
A group of University students took part in a sponsored race. The number of
laps completed is given in the table below. Use the information to:
(a) Calculate an estimate for the mean number of laps.
(b) Determine the modal class.
(c) Determine the class interval containing the median.

number of laps frequency (x)

1-5 2
6 – 10 9
11 – 15 15
16 – 20 20 Modal Class 26 - 30
21 – 25 17
26 – 30 25
31 – 35 2
36 - 40 1
 Grouped Data
Example 2.
A group of University students took part in a sponsored race. The number of
laps completed is given in the table below. Use the information to:
(a) Calculate an estimate for the mean number of laps.
(b) Determine the modal class. 
(c) Determine the class interval containing the median. 

number of laps frequency (x)

1-5 2 f  91
6 – 10 9 (91+1)/2 =
11 – 15 15 46
16 – 20 20
21 – 25 17
26 – 30 25
31 – 35 2
36 - 40 1

The 46th data value is in the 16 – 20

class
 Weighted Means
• Grade point average (GPA): Most colleges assign "weights" to
the individual course grades in the form of credits. A grade in a
4-credit course affects your GPA more than a grade in a 3-credit
course. For example, suppose Joe took the following courses:
• COURSE CR GR
Calculus 4 C
Discr. Math 3 A
English Lit. 3 A
Chemistry 4 D
Comp. Sci. 3 B
• Most colleges use the scale: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0.
To compute Joe's GPA, we multiply each course grade
(converted to the number equivalent) by the course
credits, then divide the sum by the total number of
credits:

COURSE CR GR
Calculus 4 C 4*2 = 8
Discr. Math 3 A 3*4 = 12
English Lit. 3 A 3*4 = 12
Chemistry 4 D 4*1 = 4
Comp. Sci. 3 B 3*3 = 9
---- ----
17 45

GPA = 45 / 17 = 2.65
• Example:Grades are often computed using a weighted
average. Suppose that homework counts 10%, quizzes
20%, and tests 70%.If Pat has a homework grade of 92, a
quiz grade of 68, and a test grade of 81, then find Pat’s
overall grade

Pat's overall grade = (0.10)(92) + (0.20)(68) + (0.70)(81)

= 79.5
 Homework
• Pg. 117, 118 #12-15, 26-30

For 12-15 find mean, modal class, and median

interval