LESSON 2.

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
● define what a measure of central tendency is;
● enumerate and define the three measures of central tendency; and
● solve for the mean, weighted mean, median, and mode of a given set of data.

A measure of central tendency (MCT) is popularly known as an average. This may be referred
as a single number which will be used in some definite ways to indicate the central value of an
entire group of observations or individuals in which this value represents all figures in a group of
which it is a part. In other words, an average is a single central value that can stand for the entire
group of figures as typical of all the values in the group. The three MCTs are the mean, median,
and mode.
Two functions of MCT:
1. It gives a concise description of the performance of the group as a whole; and
2. It enables one to compare two or more groups in terms of typical performance.

Lesson 2.1 MEAN

The mean is the most common measurement of average. It is also called the arithmetic mean
or the computed average. The population mean is denoted by the Greek letter 𝜇 (mu), whereas the
sample mean is represented by 𝑥 (x bar). Moreover, mean can be used when the data are interval,
or ratio.

Properties of the Mean:

1. It is the most reliable measure of central tendency since it takes into account every item in
the set data.
2. It can be calculated in any set of numerical data, so it always exists.
3. A set of numerical data has only one mean.
4. It is greatly affected by extreme values.
5. The sum of the deviations of all measurements in a set from the mean is zero (0).
6. It lends itself to a higher statistical treatment.
7. It is used only if the data are interval or ratio and when normally distributed.

A. Computation of the Mean of Ungrouped Data:

To determine the ungrouped mean, the formula is
∑𝑥
𝑥̅ =
𝑁
1. Get the sum of the scores or given measures (∑ 𝑥) and count the number of cases (N).
2. Divide the sum by the number of cases (N).

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 Example 2.1.1:
Find the mean of the scores 12, 9, 15, 10 and 14.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the sum of the scores or given measures 𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑥 = 12+9+15+10+14 = 60
𝑁 5 5
(∑ 𝑥) and count the number of cases (N).
∑𝑥
2. Divide the sum by the number of cases (N). 𝑥̅ = 𝑁
= 12

∴ The mean of the scores is 12.

Example 2.1.2:
The following are Zaeus’ scores in Statistics quizzes during the first quarter: 87, 85, 89, 88,
86, 84 and 83. Compute for the mean or the average of the scores.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the sum of the scores or given measures 𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑥 = 87+85+89+88+86+84+83 = 602
𝑁 7 7
(∑ 𝑥) and count the number of cases (N).

2. Divide the sum by the number of cases (N). ∑𝑥

𝑥̅ = 𝑁
= 86

∴ The mean or average of the scores of Zaeus is 86.

Example 2.1.3:
The number of students in nine different classrooms is 38, 45, 35, 50, 37, 45, 40, 37, and 38.
Find the mean number of the students in the classrooms.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the sum of the scores or given measures 𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑥 = 38+45+35+50+37+45+40+37+38
𝑁 9
(∑ 𝑥) and count the number of cases (N). 365
= 9
2. Divide the sum by the number of cases (N).
∑𝑥
𝑥̅ = 𝑁
= 40.55

∴ The mean number of students in nine different classrooms is 40.55.

B. Computation of the Weighted Mean

To determine the weighted mean, the formula is
∑ 𝑓𝑥
𝑥̅ =
𝑁
1. Multiply the scores or the given measures (x) by their corresponding frequencies (f).
2. Get the sum of the products (∑ 𝑓𝑥).
3. Divide the sum by the number of cases (N).

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Example 2.1.4:
There are 1000 notebooks sold at P10 each, 500 notebooks at P20 each, 500 notebooks at
P25 each and 100 notebooks at P30 each. Compute for the weighted mean.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Multiply the scores or the given measures
(x) by their corresponding frequencies (f). x f fx
P10 1000 10,000
P20 500 10,000
P25 500 12,500
2. Get the sum of the frequencies (N) and
P30 100 3,000
products (∑ 𝑓𝑥). ∑ 𝑓𝑥 = 35,500
𝑁 = 2,100
3. Divide the sum by the number of cases ∑ 𝑓𝑥 35500
𝑥̅ = 𝑁 = 2100 = 16.90
(N).

∴ The weighted mean is 16.90.

Example 2.1.5:
Mari wants to determine if she passed the subject. Given the following data, did Mari pass
the subject?
Procedure: Solution:
1. Multiply the scores or the given
measures (x) by their Weighted Mari’s
Grading
corresponding frequencies (f). Percentage Score fx
System
(f) (x)
Quizzes 25% 88 2200
Recitation 15% 90 1350
Assignment 10% 85 850
Seatwork 20% 87 1740
Term
30% 93 2790
2. Get the sum of the frequencies Examination
(N) and products (∑ 𝑓𝑥). TOTAL N = 100% ∑ 𝑓𝑥 = 8930

∑ 𝑓𝑥 8930
3. Divide the sum by the number of 𝑥̅ = = = 89.3
𝑁 100%
cases (N).

∴ Mari passed the subject with a grade of 89.3.

-=TARGET PRACTICE 2.1=-

Solve the following problems:
1. An expert in a standard work observes the amount of time required to type a sample of 10
business letters in an office with the following results listed in ascending order: 5, 5, 5, 7, 9,
14, 15, 15, 16, 18. Determine the mean.

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 2. A sample of 20 factory workers in a small company earned the following wages for a given
day: 140, 140, 240, 230, 140, 225, 200, 205, 190, 180, 140, 140, 155, 155, 140, 165, 140,
165, 140, and 180. Calculate the mean wage.

3. The daily sale of sugar in a certain grocery shop is given below:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

75 kg 120 kg 12 kg 50 kg 70 kg 140 kg
Compute the mean.

4. In 100 rolls of a die, the frequencies of the six possible events are as follows:

x f fx
1 19
2 15
3 15
4 20
5 14
6 17

Compute for the weighted mean of this distribution.

Lesson 2.2 MEDIAN

The median is the middlemost position in a list of items arranged in increasing or decreasing
order. It is a positional average. Also, it can be used when the data are ordinal, interval, or ratio.

Properties of the Median:

1. It is the value midway between the highest and the lowest values in a rank order distribution.
Also, it is the point that divides the frequency distribution in two equal halves.
2. The median is not affected by extreme values. It is affected by the number of cases.
3. The items must be arranged according to size before the median can be computed.
4. It is used when the data are ordinal.

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Computation of the Median of Ungrouped Data:
𝑁+1 𝑡ℎ
If the number of values (𝑁) is odd, the median position is equal to 𝑋𝑁+1 , and the ( 2
) value
2
in the arranged values is taken as the median.
If 𝑁 is even, the average of the middle values in the arranged values is the median or the average
𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ
of (𝑋𝑁 ) and (𝑋𝑁+1 ) values is taken as the median.
2 2

Example 2.2.1:
The scores of the students in Statistics are 15, 19, 12, 25, and 30. Find the median of their
scores.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Arrange the scores either in ascending or X1 X2 X3 X4 X5
descending order. 12 15 19 25 30

2. Count the number of values (N) and use 𝑁 = 5 = odd

the formula 𝑋𝑁+1 to find the position of 𝑋𝑁+1 = 𝑋5+1 = 𝑋6 = 𝑋3
2 2 2 2

the median.
𝑋3 is the position of the median.
3. Locate the median from the arranged
𝑋3 = 19
values in Step 1.

∴ The median of their scores is 19.

Example 2.2.2:
The ages of selected Math majors are 18, 22, 19, 15, 18, 17, 20, and 16. Find their median
age.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Arrange the scores either in ascending or X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X 6 X7 X8
descending order. 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 22

2. Count the number of values (N). 𝑁 = 8 = even

3. Since 𝑁 is even, use the formula 𝑋𝑁 and 𝑋𝑁 = 𝑋8 = 𝑋4

2 2 2

𝑋𝑁+1 to find the position of the median. 𝑋𝑁+1 = 𝑋8+1 = 𝑋4+1 = 𝑋5

2 2 2
𝑋4 and 𝑋5 is the position of the median.
4. Locate the median from the arranged
values in Step 1 and find the mean to 𝑋4 = 18; 𝑋5 = 𝟏𝟖
18+18 36
determine the median. 2
= 2 = 𝟏𝟖

∴ The median age of the selected Math majors is 18.

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Example 2.2.3:
Find the median of the given test results: 40, 38, 51, 36, 29, and 47.
Procedure: Solution:
1. Arrange the scores either in ascending or X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
descending order. 29 36 38 40 47 51

2. Count the number of values (N). 𝑁 = 6 = even

3. Since 𝑁 is even, use the formula 𝑋𝑁 and 𝑋𝑁 = 𝑋6 = 𝑋3

2 2 2

𝑋𝑁+1 to find the position of the median. 𝑋𝑁+1 = 𝑋6+1 = 𝑋3+1 = 𝑋4

2 2
2
𝑋3 and 𝑋4 is the position of the median.
4. Locate the median from the arranged
𝑋3 = 38; 𝑋4 = 𝟒𝟎
values in Step 1 and find the mean to 38+40 78
determine the median. 2
= 2 = 𝟑𝟗

∴ The median of the given test results is 39.

-=TARGET PRACTICE 2.2=-

Compute the median of the following problems:
1. The ages of 10 administrators in a certain college are as follows: 40, 38, 51, 36, 29, 47, 50,
47, 39, and 45. What is the median age of the administrators?

2. The following are the test results in a 20-item test of 15 students who joined a certain Math
competition: 5, 20, 15, 15, 3, 9, 16, 14, 18, 11, 7, 8, 20, 18, and 6. What is the median of the
test results of the students?

3. The two Math major students weigh 60 kilos, five weigh 58 kilos, seven weigh 64 kilos, four
weigh 59 kilos, six weigh 63 kilos while one weighs 68 kilos. What is the median weight of
the students?

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 Lesson 2.3 MODE

The mode is the item in a set of values that occurs most frequently. Some data sets do not have
a mode because each value occurs only once. On the other hand, some data sets can have more than
one mode. This happens when the data set has two or more values of equal frequency which is
greater than that of any other value. In addition, mode can be used when the data are nominal,
ordinal, interval, or ratio.

Properties of the Mode:

1. It is the most easily determined measure of central tendency but it is very unstable.
2. The mode is not affected by extreme scores.
3. It is the poorest measure of average.
4. It is not necessary to arrange the items before the mode is known.

Computation of the Mode of Ungrouped Data:

Get the most frequent score.
Example 2.3.1:
Find the mode/s of the following data set:
7, 6, 8, 9, 5, 10, 5, 3, 5
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the most frequent score/s. Mode = 5

∴ The mode is unimodal because it has only one mode which is 5 that occurred in the data set
most frequently.

Example 2.3.2:
Identify the mode/s of the given set of data:
7, 6, 5, 4, 9, 5, 3, 5, 6, 3, 8, 6
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the most frequent score/s. Mode = 5 and 6

∴ The mode is bimodal because it has two modes – 5 and 6 – which both occurred three times in
the data set.

Example 2.3.2:
Determine the mode/s of the given set of data:
Bus Helicopter Van Airplane Scooter
Car Motorcycle Truck Train Bicycle
Procedure: Solution:
1. Get the most frequent score/s. Mode = No Mode

∴ There is no mode because all the elements of the data set appeared only once and no frequent
occurrence of any element is observed.

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-=TARGET PRACTICE 2.3=-
Determine the mode of the following problems:
1. The ages of 13 administrators in a certain college are as follows: 40, 38, 51, 36, 29, 47, 50,
47, 39, 45, 38, 47, and 38. What is the mode age of the administrators?

2. The following are the test results in a 20-item test of 15 students who joined a certain Math
competition: 15, 20, 15, 15, 13, 9, 16, 14, 18, 11, 17, 18, 20, 18, and 16. What is the mode
of the test results of the students?

3. The two Math major students weigh 60 kilos, five weigh 58 kilos, seven weigh 64 kilos, four
weigh 59 kilos, six weigh 63 kilos and one weighs 68 kilos. What is the mode weight of the
students?

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