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2-3 Histograms, Frequency Polygons, and Ogives: Chp.2 Page 1

This document discusses different types of statistical graphs used to represent frequency distributions, including histograms, frequency polygons, and ogives. It provides the following information: - Histograms display data using vertical bars of varying heights to represent class frequencies. Frequency polygons connect points plotted at the midpoints of classes. Ogives represent cumulative class frequencies. - To construct these graphs, the axes must be drawn and labeled, scales chosen, class boundaries or midpoints plotted on the x-axis, and bars, lines or points drawn. - These graphs can also represent relative frequencies by dividing each class frequency by the total frequency, resulting in proportions that sum to 1. - A majority of employees in the example distribution worked

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Suniel Chhetri
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79 views2 pages

2-3 Histograms, Frequency Polygons, and Ogives: Chp.2 Page 1

This document discusses different types of statistical graphs used to represent frequency distributions, including histograms, frequency polygons, and ogives. It provides the following information: - Histograms display data using vertical bars of varying heights to represent class frequencies. Frequency polygons connect points plotted at the midpoints of classes. Ogives represent cumulative class frequencies. - To construct these graphs, the axes must be drawn and labeled, scales chosen, class boundaries or midpoints plotted on the x-axis, and bars, lines or points drawn. - These graphs can also represent relative frequencies by dividing each class frequency by the total frequency, resulting in proportions that sum to 1. - A majority of employees in the example distribution worked

Uploaded by

Suniel Chhetri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2-3 Histograms, Frequency Polygons, and Ogives

After the data have been organized into a frequency distribution, they can be presented in graphical form. The purpose
of graphs in statistics is to convey the data to viewers in pictorial form. Graphs are also useful in getting the audiences
attention in a publication or a speaking presentation. They can be used to discuss an issue, reinforce a critical point, or
summarize a data set. The can also be used to discover a trend or pattern in a situation over a period of time.
The three most commonly used graphs in research are
!" The histogram a graph that displays the data by using contiguous vertical bars #unless the frequency of a
class is $" of various heights to represent the frequencies of the classes.
%" The frequency polygon a graph that displays the data by using lines that connect points plotted for the
frequencies at the midpoints of the classes. The frequencies are represented by the heights of the points.
&" The ogive #or cumulative frequency" a graph that represents the cumulative frequencies for the classes in a
frequency distribution.
Constructing Statistical raphs
!" 'raw and label the x and y a(es.
%" )hoose a suitable scale for the frequencies or cumulative frequencies, and label it on the y a(is.
&" *epresent the class boundaries for the histogram or ogive, or the midpoint for the frequency polygon, on the x
a(is.
+" ,lot the points and then draw the bars or lines.
The histogram, the frequency polygon, and the ogive are constructed by using frequencies in terms of raw data. These
distributions can be converted to distributions using proportions instead of raw data as frequencies. These types of
graphs are called relative frequency graphs. *elative frequency graphs are used when the proportion of data values
that fall into a given class is more important than the actual number of data values that fall into that class.
To convert a frequency into a proportion or relative frequency, divide the frequency for each class by the total of the
frequencies. The sum of the relative frequencies will always be one.
!"ample #$
-or ./ employees of a large department store, the following distribution for years of service was obtained. )onstruct a
histogram, frequency polygon, and ogive for the data. A ma0ority of the employees have worked for how many years or
less1
Class limits Frequency
!./ %!
2.!$ %/
!!.!/ !/
!2.%$ $
%!.%/ 3
%2.&$ 2
%istri&ution Shapes
'istributions are most often not perfectly shaped, so it is necessary not to have an e(act shape but rather to identify an
overall pattern.
A &ell-shaped distri&ution has a single peak and tapers off at either end. 4t is appro(imately symmetric5 i.e., it is
roughly the same on both sides of a line running through the center.
)hp.% ,age !
A uniform distri&ution is basically flat or rectangular.
A '-shaped distri&ution has a few data values on the left side and increases as one moves to the right.
A reverse '-shaped distri&ution is the opposite of a 67shaped distribution.
8hen the peak of the distribution is to the left and the data values taper off to the right, a distribution is said to be
right-s(e)ed*
8hen the data values are clustered to the right and taper off to the left, a distribution is said to be left-s(e)ed*
'istributions with one peak are said to be unimodal.
8hen a distribution has two peaks of the same height, it is said to be &imodal.
A +-shaped distribution has peaks on both the left and right and then decreases as one moves toward the center.
The highest peak of a distribution indicates where the mode of the data value is. The mode is the data value that occurs
more often than any other data value.
)hp.% ,age %

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