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Chapter 4
MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY

4.0 Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Differentiate ungrouped from grouped data;

2. Define mean, median, and mode;
3. Calculate the mean, median, and mode for ungrouped data;
4. Calculate the mean, median, and mode for grouped data;
5. Apply the weighted arithmetic mean in a distribution with weighted scores;
6. Give the advantages of using mean, median, or mode as a measure of central tendency;
7. Identify the most appropriate measure of central tendency in a certain distribution; and
8. Determine the quartile, decile, and percentile values in a certain distribution.

4.1 Introduction

Descriptive measures that are used to indicate where the center, the middle property, or the most
typical value of a set of data lies are called measures of central tendency, often referred to as
averages. We shall consider in this chapter the three most important measures of central tendency:
the mean, the median, and the mode.

4.2 Arithmetic Mean

The most commonly used measure of central tendency is the arithmetic mean. It is also called
the mean or the computed average. It is defined to be the sum of the values of a group of items
divided by the number of such items. The mean of a sample scores on a variable x is symbolized by
x́ (x-bar) and the mean of a population is called the µ (mu). Most of the time, researchers are forced
to estimate µ from x, since they cannot measure every item in the population.

4.2.1 Characteristics of the Mean

 It is appropriate to use when sample data are being used to make inferences about
populations.
 It is a point which balances all the values on either side.
 It is sensitive or greatly affected by the presence of extremely high or low values.
 It is inappropriate to use when the distribution is highly skewed.
 It cannot be computed when the distribution contains open-ended intervals.

4.2.2 Uses of the Mean

 The mean is the most commonly used, easily understood, easily calculated, and generally
recognized average.
 It is the best measure to use when the distribution is normal or symmetrical.
 It is a useful measure for inferential statistics.
 It is also used to obtain values after each item is weighted.

4.2.3 Computation of the Mean for Ungrouped Data

For ungrouped data, the mean is computed by simply adding all the values and dividing the
sum by the total number of items.
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For the sample mean, the formula is:

n
∑ xi
x̄= i=1
n

In simpler form, the formula may be presented as

x̄=
∑x
n

where x́ = sample mean

∑ = “the sum of”
x = value of each item or observation
n = number of items or observations

For the population mean, the formula is:

μ=
∑x
N

where μ = population mean

∑ = “the sum of”
x = value of each item or observation
N = number of items in the population

Example 4.2-1

A random sample of six cashiers in a department store shows the following balances at the
end of the day:

Ᵽ16,640.39 ; Ᵽ26,915.50 ; Ᵽ6,827.08 ; Ᵽ101,791.17 ; Ᵽ61,811.75 ; Ᵽ20,244.12

To compute the mean balance:

Ᵽ 16,640.39+26,915.50+ ⋯+20,244.12
x́=
6

Ᵽ 234,230.10
x́=
6

x́=Ᵽ 39,038.35

4.2.4 Weighted Arithmetic Mean

The weighted arithmetic mean of a set of values represented by x 1, x 2, x 3, ⋯, x n can be expressed

as the sum of the values multiplied by their corresponding weights. The formula is:
n
∑ f i xi
i=1
x̄= n
∑ fi
i=1

where f i = weight or frequency of each item

x i = value of each item
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In simplified form, the formula can be written as

x́=
∑ fx
∑f
Example 4.2-2

The final grades of a student at the end of the school year are as follows:

Subjects Grades (X) Units (f)

English I 92 1.5
Filipino I 89 1.5
Math IA 81 1.0
Math IB 81 1.0
Science I 87 1.5
Computer I 80 1.0
Agriculture I 86 0.6
Home Science I 78 0.6
Soc. Studies I 80 1.2
PEHM I 89 1.2
ESP 91 0.4

To compute the mean grade of this student:

1.5 ( 92 )+ 1.5 ( 89 )+ 1.0 ( 81 )+ ⋯+0.4 (91)

x́=
1.5+1.5+1.0+ ⋯+0.4

981.6
x́=
11.5

x́=85.36

Example 4.2-3

Consider the daily earnings of the employees of a small accounting firm:

210 210 850 360 310 310 210 210 960 210

To find the mean daily salary:

210 210 210 210 210 310 310 360 850 960

5 ( 210 )+ 2 ( 310 )+360+ 850+960

x́=
5+2+1+1+1

Ᵽ 3,840
x́=
10

x́=Ᵽ 384 ; average daily salary

4.2.5 Computation of the Mean for Grouped Data

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Data which are arranged in a frequency distribution are called grouped data. Observations
belonging to each class interval are represented by the class mark of the interval. There are
two methods we can use to compute the mean from grouped data. These are the long method
and the coded method.

A. Long Method

The formulas are:

n
∑ f i Xi ∑ fX
X̄ = i =1 X̄ =
n or n (for a sample)
n
∑ f i Xi ∑ fX
μ= i =1 μ=
N or N (for a population)

where f = frequency or number of observations in a class

X = class mark or midpoint of a class
n = total frequency in the sample distribution
N = total frequency in the population distribution

Example 4.2-4

Height Frequency Class Mark fiXi

(inches) ( f i) (X)
61-63 2 62 124
64-66 5 65 325
67-69 12 68 816
70-72 15 71 1,065
73-75 8 74 592
76-78 5 77 385
79-81 3 80 240
Total 50 3,547

X̄ =
∑ fX
n

3 , 547
X̄ =
50

X̄ =70.94 Thus, the mean height of 50 men would be 70.94 inches.

B. Coded Formula

This formula requires coding and is called the coded formula for the mean. The
procedure is as follows:

1. Take the class mark of a class interval as an assumed mean. Denote this by x 0. This x 0
is set to zero (origin).
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2. The class marks of the classes following the class containing the origin are coded
+1, +2, …The class marks prior to the class containing the origin are coded
-1, -2, … or the class marks may be expressed by the codes

X i−X o
U i= where c is the size of the class interval.
c

3. To obtain the sample mean, use the formula:

where
X̄ =X 0 +c ( )
∑ f i Ui
i=1

X 0 = assumed mean
n

f = frequency
n = total frequency
c = class size
Ui = 0, ± 1, ± 2, ± 3, …

4. To obtain a population mean, we simply replace X́ by μ and n by N.

Example 4.2-5

Height Frequency Class Mark Deviation or Coded

(inches) ( f i) (X) Ui fiUi
61-63 2 62 -3 -6
64-66 5 65 -2 -10
67-69 12 68 -1 -12
70-72 15 71 0 0
73-75 8 74 1 8
76-78 5 77 2 10
79-81 3 80 3 9
Total 50 -1

Applying the formula

X̄ =X 0 +c ( )
∑ f i Ui
i=1
n

X̄ =71+3 (50−1 )
X̄ =71−0.06

X̄ =70.94
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Name: ______________________________________ Score: __________________

Section: _________________ Date: ___________________

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY

Exercise 4.1

1. Determine the mean of the following population data.

21, 19, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 35, 35, 40, 42, 41, 26, 27

2. A sample of 20 families gave the following data on the number of children per family. Find the
mean.

0, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 5, 6, 5, 3, 3, 4, 5, 0

3. A sample of 15 supermarkets reported the following prices of sugar per kilo. Find the average
price of sugar per kilo.

Ᵽ24, 24.50, 25, 24.50, 23.50, 24.25, 24.50, 24, 22.75, 23, 23.50, 23.50, 23, 24.25, 24

4. Ely Santos is working part time at a restaurant in Makati. If she works for 30 hours in one week,
how many hours per day does she work?

5. The mean height of Ana, Lucy, Pearl, and Tess is 66 inches. What is the height of Cora if the
mean height of the five girls is 70?

6. The average of four numbers is 40. The third is 12 more than the second. The second is five times
the first. The fourth is 8 less than the first. Find the numbers.

7. The six departments of a company, consisting of 22, 32, 18, 16, 10, and 12 employees have an
equal monthly salary of Ᵽ7,200; Ᵽ7,600; Ᵽ6,900; Ᵽ8,200; Ᵽ7,800; and Ᵽ7,200, respectively.
What is the mean monthly salary of all the employees of the company?

8. The distribution of ages (years) of married women in a municipality are given below:

Ages Frequency

16-22 13
23-29 16
30-36 24
37-43 19
44-50 8

Find the mean age of these women.

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4.3 The Median

The median (Md) of a set of data is a measure of central tendency that occupies the middle
position in an array of values. It is the number that divides the data into two such that 50% of the
data fall below this value and 50% fall above this value.

4.3.1 Characteristics of the Median

 It is also widely used, easy to understand, and easy to compute.

 It cannot be computed unless the data are arranged in an ascending or descending order.
 It is not affected by the presence of extremely high or low values, so it is more appropriate
when a distribution is badly skewed.
 It may be determined in open-ended distribution.

4.3.2 Uses of the Median

 It is used whenever an average of position is desired.

 It is used when open intervals are involved.
 It is also frequently used as an average in testing general abilities, like in intelligence test.

4.3.3 Computation of the Median for Ungrouped Data

The median is computed as follows:

1. Arranged the observations in an array.

2. Identify the middle value.

a. If n is odd, the median is simply the middle value. That is,

n+1
Md= X m where :m=
2

b. If n is even, the median is the average of the two middle values. That is,

X m+ X (m +1) n
Md= where :m=
2 2

Example 4.3-1

The amount of money a balut vendor earned on five randomly selected days are:

Ᵽ 86 ,109 , 141 ,74 ,123

To find the median:

1. Array: Ᵽ 74 , 86 ,109 , 123 , 141

n+1 5+1
2. m= = =3 (since n=5 is odd)
2 2

Md= X 3=Ᵽ 109

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Example 4.3-2

Consider the average grades of 10 students:

83 , 74 , 63 , 77 , 81, 100 , 60 ,73 , 86 , 91

To find the median:

1. Array: 60 , 63 ,73 , 74 , 77 , 81 , 83 ,86 ,91 , 100

n 10
2. m= = =5 (since n=10 is even)
2 2

X 5+ X 6 77 +81
Md= = =79
2 2

4.3.4 Computation of the Median for Grouped Data

The median of a grouped frequency distribution is essentially the x-coordinate of the point
of intersection of the “less than” and “greater than” ogives of the distribution.

The formula of the median for grouped data is given below.

n
Md=L B +c
2
( )
−F
f Md

where LB =lower class boundary of themedian clas

n
Median class isthe class interval where is found
2
F=cumulative frequency for the class interval preceding themedian class
c=class ¿ ¿
f Md =frequency of the median class

Example 4.3-2

Find the median for the following data.

Height
(inches) f ¿ cf
61-63 2 2
64-66 5 7
67-69 12 19
70-72 15 34
73-75 8 42
76-78 5 47
79-81 3 50
Total 50
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Solution:

n
=25 → Md class :70−72
2

n
Md=L B +c
2
( )
−F
f Md

¿ 69.5+3 ( 25−19
15 )

¿ 69.5+1.2

Md=70.7inches

4.4. The Mode

The mode (Mo) is the value that appears most often in a series. A series may have more
than one mode or none at all. For grouped data, the class with the greatest frequency is called the
modal class. A distribution with only one mode is said to be unimodal. A distribution wherein there
are two classes with the greatest frequency is referred to as bimodal.

4.4.1 Characteristics of the Mode

 It is the simplest but unreliable measure of central tendency.

 It is not affected by extreme values in a distribution.
 It is not necessary to arrange the item before the mode is known.
 It may not exist in some sets of data or there may be more than one mode in other data sets.

4.4.2 Uses of the Mode

 It is used when a quick estimate of the average is needed.

 It provides information to businessmen and producers in business planning and decision
making. For example, if you are a shoe producer or a clothing manufacturer and you want
to know (and make) the size that will fit the greatest number of people, you would seek the
modal size. Obviously, the shoe producer or clothing manufacturer will produce more shoes
or dresses in the most commonly purchased size than in other sizes.

4.4.3 Computation of the Mode for Ungrouped Data

For ungrouped data, the mode is the most frequent score in the series.

Example 4.4-1

Find the mode of the following values:

a) 3, 4, 7, 7, 7, 8, 11, 11, 14, 18, 19

Mo=7

b) 6, 6, 6, 9, 9. 9, 9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 21, 21, 35, 35
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Mo=12 ,15

4.4.4 Computation of the Mode for Grouped Data

For grouped data, the class with the greatest frequency is called the modal class. The mode
can be obtained using the formula:

d1
Mo=LB + c ( d1 +d 2 )
where LB =lower class boundary of themodal class
d 1=difference between the frequency of the modal class∧¿
the frequency of the class intervallower thanthe modal class
d 2=difference between the frequency of the modal class∧¿
the frequency of the class interval higher than the modal class
c=class ¿ ¿

Example 4.3-2

Find the mode for the following data.

Height
(inches) f
61-63 2
64-66 5
67-69 12
70-72 15
73-75 8
76-78 5
79-81 3
Total 50

Solution:

Mo class: 70 – 72 d 1=15−12=3 LB =69.5

d 2=15−8=7 c=3

d1
Mo=LB + c ( d1 +d 2 )
¿ 69.5+3 ( 3+73 )
¿ 69.5+0.9

Mo=70.4 inches
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4.5 Typical Locations of the Mean, Median, and Mode

a) Normal Distribution

b) Positively Skewed Distribution

c) Negatively Skewed Distribution