MEASUREMENT OF CENTRAL TENDENCY – UNGROUPED DATA

A given set of data can be described in several ways. The type of description or statistical device
that may be used will depend on the nature of the data and the intended purpose of the
description. The measures which can be used are the MEASURES OF POSITION or CENTRAL
TENDENCY and the MEASURES OF SPREAD or VARIABILITY.

2.12 Definition

Statistical measures of central tendency or central location are numerical values that are
indicative of the central point or the greatest frequency concerning a set of data. The most
common measures of central location are the mean, median and mode.

2.13 Definition

The statistical MEAN of a set of observations is the average measurement in a set of data.

N
1
μ= ∑ X i
N i=1

Given the set of data values x1, x2 …. xN from a sample of size n, the sample mean x is
calculated as:

∑ Xi
x= i=1
n

The sample mean is often used as an estimator of the mean of the population from
where the sample is taken. In fact, the sample mean is statistically proven to be the most
effective estimator for the population mean.

Example 1

Given the following set of data, compute for the mean.

1.4 1.5 2.6 3.9 2.4 1.9 3.6 2.5 2.4 3.2
Solution:

It can be arranged in ascending order

1.4 1.5 1.9 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.2 3.6 3.9

The mean can be computed by using the given formula:

1.4+1.5+1.9+2.4 +2.4+2.5+ 2.6+3.2+3.6+3.9

x= 10

25.4
x= 10

x = 2.54

Example 2

The prices of the canned goods bought in a grocery store are the following: Php 32, Php 30, Php
38, Php 45, Php 29 and Php 38. The arithmetic mean would be:

32+ 30+38+45+ 29+38

x= 6

212
x= 6

x = Php 35.33

There are times when values seem to be more important than others. The mean derived
from such kind of data is called the weighted mean. (Xw).
Example 3:

At the end of the semester, a BA Statistics student got the following grades. The number
enclosed in the quantity represents the number of units credited for the subject:

Grade Units
Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1 2.50 6
Mathematics of Investment 2.00 3
Demography 1.75 3
English III 1.75 3
Humanities 2.25 3
Logic 2.00 3

Solve for the weighted mean.

Solution:

The weighted mean (Xw) of the given data would be:

2.50 (6 ) +2.00 ( 3 ) +1.75 (3 )+ 1.75 ( 3 )+2.25 ( 3 ) +2.00 (3)

xw = 21

15.00+6.00+5.25+5.25+6.25+6
xw = 21

44.25
xw = 21

xw = 2.11

2.14 Definition

The MEDIAN of a set of observations is the value that, when the observations are arranged
in ascending or descending order, satisfies the following condition:

a. If the number of observations is odd, the median is the middle value; and
 b. If the number of observations is even, the median is the average of the two middle
values.

Example 1

Solve for the median of:

1.4 1.5 2.6 3.9 2.4 1.9 3.6 2.5 2.4 3.2

Solution:

It can be arranged in ascending order

1.4 1.5 1.9 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.2 3.6 3.9

Since there are ten items therefore the 2 middle values are 2.4 and 2.5, thus the median will be:

2.4+2.5
Md = 2

Md = 2.45

Example 2

Solve for the median:

14, 16, 19, 21, 24, 29, 32

Solution:

Since the number of items in the given set of data is odd, then the middle value is 21, thus the
median will be:

Md = 21

2.15 Definition

The MODE of a set of observations is the specific value that occurs with the greatest frequency.

Example 1

Solve for the mode:

1.4 1.5 2.6 3.9 2.4 1.9 3.6 2.5 2.4 3.2

Solution:

Since 2.4 appeared twice, which is the most frequent, therefore the mode is 2.4

Measurement of Central Tendency – Grouped Data

Mean of Grouped Data

The calculation of mean from a frequency distribution is almost the same as that from
an ungrouped data, only in a distribution, the individual values are not known. When the
number of items is too large, it is best to compute for the measures of central tendency using a
frequency distribution.

There are two methods which can be used in computing the mean of the grouped data:
the long method and the deviation method. In the long method we use the formula:

fx
x = ∑n

Example 1

Using the data in the table below, compute for the mean.

Solution:

Grades (%) classes No. of Examinees (f) Midpoint (x) fx

90 – 94 10 92 920
85 – 89 10 87 870
80 – 84 15 82 1230
75 – 79 22 77 1694

70 – 74 18 72 1296
65 - 69 12 67 804
 Total n = 87 6814

fx
x = ∑n
6814
x= 87

x = 78.32

The calculation of the mean can also be done by using the deviation method. d’ will be
used for the unit deviation, represents the assumed mean, the assumed mean can be taken
from any midpoint of the given classes but the classes with the highest frequency is preferred.

Grades Classes (%) f x d’ fd’

90 - 94 10 92 3 30

85 – 89 10 87 2 20

80 - 84 15 82 1 15

75 - 79 22 77 0 0

70 - 74 18 72 -1 -18

65 - 69 12 67 -2 -24

n = 87 ∑ f d ' =23

Applying the following formula:

fd
x = x1 + (∑ ) n
∗c w

where:

f = frequency

d1 = unit deviation
x1 = assumed mean

cw = class width

the assumed mean in the given example is 77 (the midpoint) of the class with the highest
frequency

1 x−x 1
d =
c

Hence the mean will be:

x = 77 + ( 2387 )∗5
x = 77 + 1.32

x = 78.32

Median of Grouped Data

To compute for the median of the grouped data, determine the value which divides the
distribution into two equal parts. Therefore, the cumulative frequency “less than” of the given
distribution has to be calculated.

n
Md = L +
( )
2
−F2
f2
∗c w

where: L = exact lower limit of the class where the median lies

n = no. of cases in the given frequency distribution

F2 = the cumulative frequency less than lower than the of the median class (it includes

the item)

f2 = frequency of the median class

cw = class width

Example 1
Using the previous data, solve for the median.

Solution:

Grades Classes (%) No. of examinees (f) >cf

90 – 94 10 87
85 – 89 10 77
80 – 84 15 67
75 – 79 22f2 52
70 – 74 18 30F2
65 – 69 12 12
n = 87

n 87
= =43.5, the 43.5th item is contained in the class 75 – 79, therefore it is the median class.
2 2
Substituting the values in the given formula we get

Md = 74.5 + ( 43.5−30
22 )
∗5

13.5
( )
Md = 74.5 + 22 ∗5

Md = 74.5 + 3.0682

Md = 77.5682

Md = 77.57

Mode of Grouped Data

In a frequency distribution, the modal class is easy to determine because it is the class
will the highest frequency. But this will not determine the exact point in the modal class and
the rough approximation is taking the midpoint of the modal class as the mode. In calculating
the mode of a frequency distribution, the following formula is given:
 d1
Mo = L + ( )
d 1 +d 2
∗cw

where: L = exact lower limit of the model class

d1 = numerical difference between the frequency of the modal class and the frequency
of the adjacent lower class

d2 = numerical difference between the frequency of the modal class and the frequency
of the adjacent higher class

cw = class width

Example 1

Using the same data, solve for the mode.

Solution:

Grade Classes (%) No. of Examinees (f) Substituting the values in the given formula we get
90 – 94 10
d1
85 – 89 10 Mo = L + ( )
d 1 +d 2
∗c w

80 – 84 15

75 – 79 22 Mo = 74.5 + ¿
70 – 74 18
65 – 69 12
Mo = 74.5 +
( 4 4+7 )∗5
n = 87
Mo = 74.5 + 1.8182

Mo = 76.32