Module 5

Measures of Central
Tendency
(Grouped Data)
Objectives:

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

1. be familiar with the measures of central tendency and their characteristics;

2. calculate the mean, median and the mode for grouped data and interpret the
values obtained;

3. determine the appropriate measure that will identify the rank or position of an
observation vis-a-vis the whole distribution;

4. state the importance of the measures of location in interpreting grouped data; and

5. perform simple analysis of data.

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY (Grouped Data)

Mean
Recall that the grouped data are data which have been arranged in a frequency
distribution table. To compute the mean for grouped data, we can use two formulas, namely:

A. The Classmark Formula:

∑ 𝑓𝑋𝑚
𝑋̅ =
𝑛

where: f= frequency
Xm = classmark
n = total frequency

The steps in computing the mean using the classmark formula are as follows:
1. Construct the column for the classmark (Xm).
2. Multiply each classmark by its corresponding frequency,this will be written in the fXm
column.
3. Get the sum of the values in fXmcolumn (∑ 𝑓𝑋𝑚 ).
4. Substitute the values in the formula to find the mean.

Example: Below is the frequency distribution of the scores of 40 students in Mathematics

Solution:

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 Classes f Xm fXm
16 – 23 1 19.5 19.5
24 – 31 3 27.5 82.5
32 – 39 6 35.5 213
40 – 47 12 43.5 522
48 – 55 10 51.5 515
56 – 63 8 59.5 476
n = 40 ∑ 𝑓𝑋𝑚
= 1828
∑ 𝑓𝑋𝑚 1828
𝑋̅ = = = 𝟒𝟓. 𝟕
𝑛 40
This indicates that the mean score in Mathematics of the
40 students is 45.7
The Coded Formula or Deviation Method

∑ 𝑓𝑑
𝑋̅ = 𝑋0 + ( 𝑛 ) 𝑖
where: X0 = classmark with a deviation of 0
f = frequency
d = deviation
n = total frequency
i = class interval

Steps in computing for the mean using the coded formula are as follows:
1. Choose any class interval to find the assumed mean. The classmark of this interval is
X0 where the deviation is 0.
2. Construct the column for the deviation. For the class larger than the assumed mean,
the deviations are 1,2,3,...whereas for the class smaller than the assumed mean, the
deviations are -1,-2,-3,....and so on.
3. Multiply each frequency by the corresponding deviation to get the entries in the fd
column. Get the sum (∑ 𝑓𝑑).
4. Use the formula to compute for the mean.

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To illustrate, consider the data below.
Solution:
Classes f Xm d fd
16 – 23 1 19.5 -3 -3
24 – 31 3 27.5 -2 -6
32 – 39 6 35.5 -1 -6
40 – 47 12 43.5 0 0
48 – 55 10 51.5 1 10
56 – 63 8 59.5 2 16
∑ 𝑓𝑑
n = 40
= 11

∑ 𝑓𝑑
𝑋̅ = 𝑋0 + ( )𝑖
𝑛
11
𝑋̅ = 43.5 + ( ) 8
40
𝑋̅ = 45.7

Notice that we got the same mean which is 45.7, thus either of the two formulas will
gain the same value of the mean. Note also, that we will get the same mean if we take the
assumed mean from the other class intervals.

Characteristics of the Mean:

1. The mean is the most appropriate measure when the data are in interval or ratio
scale.
2. The mean lies between the largest and smallest values.
3. The value of the mean is unique for a given set of data.
4. The mean is easily influenced by extreme values.
5. The mean is better suited for further statistical measures.

Median
𝑛
−<𝑐𝑓𝑏
𝑋̃ = 𝐿𝐵 + ( 2
)𝑖
𝑓𝑚

where: LB = lower boundary of the median class

fm = frequency of the median class
<cfb = less than cumulative frequency before the median class
n = total frequency
i = class interval

Steps in computing the median for grouped data:

1. Construct the less than cumulative frequency.

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 𝑛
2. Determine the median class ( ) in the cumulative frequency column.
2
3. Substitute using the formula.

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Example: To illustrate how to compute for the median of grouped data, let us use the
distribution of the test scores of 40 students in Mathematics.

Classes f <cf
16 – 23 1 1
24 – 31 3 4
32 – 39 6 10 𝑐𝑓𝑏
40 – 47 12 fm 22 MC
48 – 55 10 32
56 – 63 8 40
n = 40

The median class is 40 – 47 because it contains one-half

of the total frequency
𝑛 40
( = = 20) in the <cf column. Substituting the
2 2
values in the formula;
𝑛
−<𝑐𝑓𝑏
𝑋̃ = 𝐿𝐵 + ( 2
)𝑖
𝑓𝑚

20−10
𝑋̃ = 39.5 + ( 12 ) 8

𝑋̃ = 46.17
Characteristics of the Median:
1. The median is the most appropriate measure for interval data.
2. The mean lies between the highest and lowest measurements.
3. There is only one value for the median in a given set of measurements.
4. The median is not influenced by extreme values.
5. The median is used when the middle value is desired. It is the value where 50% or
half of the distribution lies above it and 50% lies below it.

Mode

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 𝑓𝑚𝑜−𝑓1
𝑋̂ = 𝐿𝐵𝑚𝑜 + (2𝑓 −𝑓 −𝑓 )𝑖
𝑚𝑜 1 2

where: LBmo = lower boundary of the modal

class
fmo = frequency of the modal class
f1 = frequency before the modal class
f2 = frequency after the modal class
i = class interval

Steps in computing the mode for grouped data:

1. Find the modal class; the class with the highest
frequency.
2. Use the formula to find the mode.

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Take Note: It is important to note that the given
formula will be used only for unimodal;

𝑓𝑚𝑜−𝑓1
𝑋̂ = 𝐿𝐵𝑚𝑜 + ( )𝑖
2𝑓𝑚𝑜 − 𝑓1 − 𝑓2

For multimodal distribution, an alternative formula is used for

the rough mode;

𝑋̂ = 3(Median) – 2 (Mean)

Example: Find the mode of the grouped data, using the distribution of the test scores of 40
students in Mathematics.

Classes f
16 – 23 1
24 – 31 3
32 – 39 6
40 – 47 12
MoG
48 – 55 10
56 - 63 8
n = 40

The modal class is the class interval 40 – 47 with the highest frequency of 12 (unimodal).
Substituting the values in the formula;

𝑓𝑚𝑜−𝑓1
𝑋̂ = 𝐿𝐵𝑚𝑜 + (2𝑓 −𝑓 −𝑓 )𝑖
𝑚𝑜 1 2

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 12−6
𝑋̂ = 39.5 + (2(12)− 6 −10) 8
̂ = 45.5
𝑿
Characteristics of the Mode:
1. The mode is the most appropriate measure for nominal data.
2. The mode is the least reliable among the measures of central tendency.
3. The mode is used when we want to find the value which occurs most often.
4. The mode is a quick approximation of the average.

Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________________

Section: ___________ Professor: ________________________ Score: _________

Activity 1

The following are the test scores obtained by 40 employees in a Satisfactory

Assessment of a certain company.
Compute the mean, median, and the mode. Interpret the result.

Classes f Xm fXm <cf

20 – 24 4
25 – 29 6
30 – 34 7
35 – 39 10
40 – 44 5
45 – 49 8

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Name: _____________________________________________ Date: _________________

Section: ___________ Professor: _____________________________ Score: ___________

Activity 2

The following data represent the scores (in words per minute) of 25 computer encoders on a
speed test. Complete the table and answer the questions below.

Scores f Xm fXm <cf

54 – 58 2
59 – 63 5
64 – 68 8
69 – 73 1
74 – 78 3
79 – 83 5
84 – 88 1

From the frequency table above, answer the following:

__________1. Median class

__________2. Lower boundary of the median class
__________3. Midpoint of the median class
__________4. Upper limit of the median class
__________5. The modal class
__________6. Lower limit of the modal class
__________7. Classmark of the median class
__________8. Lower limit of the median class
__________9. Number of computer encoders with scores greater than 63
__________10. Classmark of the modal class
__________11. Percentage of computer encoders with scores less than 69
__________12. Mean
__________13. Median
__________14. Mode

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Name: ______________________________________________ Date: _________________

Section: ___________ Professor: ______________________________ Score: ___________

Activity 3

Suppose the following grouped distribution represents text anxiety measures. The upper 15%
of the individuals from the highly anxious group, the next 25% form the moderately anxious
group, the next 40% form the somewhat anxious group and the bottom 20% form the non-
anxious group. Find the measures of position associated with each classification.

Test Anxiety
f Xm fXm <cf
Scores
27 – 35 6
36 – 44 9
45 – 53 15
54 – 62 7
63 – 71 8
72 - 80 5

A. Compute for the following. Show your solution.

1. Mean

2. Median

3. Mode

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REFERENCES

Sirug, W. S. (2018), Introduction to Business Statistics

Blay, B. E. (2013), Elementary Statistics
https://www.khanacademy.org>math

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