Measures of

Central
Tendency
NOEMI ANN S. DE GUZMAN

INSTRUCTOR

1
Measures of Central Tendency
The "center" of a data set is a way of describing location. The three most widely used measures of
the "center" of the data are the mean (average), the median, and the mode.

For example, to calculate the mean weight of 50 people, add the 50 weights together and divide
by 50. To find the median weight of the 50 people, order the data and find the number that splits
the data into two equal parts.
Measures of Central Tendency for
Ungrouped Data
Mean
◦ The mean , or “arithmetic average”, is the most widely used measure of central tendency. The sample
mean is denoted by 𝒙ഥ. The Greek letter μ (pronounced "mew") represents the population mean. One
of the requirements for the sample mean to be a good estimate of the population mean is for the
sample taken to be truly random. To see that both ways of calculating the mean are the same.

◦ Formula:
σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖
𝑥ҧ =
𝑛
Measures of Central Tendency for
Ungrouped Data
Median
◦ The median of a distribution is the value that cuts the distribution in half. The median is called the
middle value of the ungrouped data.
𝑛+1
𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 =
2
Mode
It is the most frequent value in the distribution. A distribution with a single mode is said to be a
unimodal. A distribution with two modes is bimodal, and trimodal if the distribution has three modes. If the
distribution has more than three modes, then it is multimodal.
 Measures of Central Tendency for
Ungrouped Data
The data provided below is the amount of time (minutes) of ten students spent in solving a math
problem.
8 5 1 2 10 3 4 8 9 7

Mean

Median

Mode
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
MEAN: Long Method
σ𝒌𝒊=𝟏 𝒇𝒊 𝑴𝒊
ഥ
𝒙=
𝒏
Where
◦ 𝒇𝒊 is the frequency of the ith class interval;
◦ 𝑴𝒊 is the class mark of the ith class interval; and
◦ 𝒏 is the sum of the frequencies for all class intervals.
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
Mean
σ𝒌𝒊=𝟏 𝒇𝒊 𝑴𝒊
◦ Long Method ഥ=
𝒙 𝒏
◦ Example: Fifteen students in a math class took a test, and the results are recorded and summarized in the
given frequency table:
Table 1. Test Scores of Students
Test Scores Frequency
1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
Mean: SOLUTION
σ𝒌
𝒊=𝟏 𝒇𝒊𝑴𝒊
Long Method 𝒙
ത=
𝒏

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 𝑴𝒊 𝒇 𝒊 𝑴𝒊
1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏=
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
MEAN: Short Method
σ𝒌𝒊=𝟏 𝒇𝒊 𝒅
ഥ
𝒙 = 𝑨. 𝑴. + 𝒄
𝒏

where
◦ 𝑨. 𝑴 is the assumed mean (from the class mark);
◦ 𝑴𝒊 is the class mark of the ith class interval;
◦ 𝒏 is the sum of the frequencies for all class intervals.
◦ 𝒅 is the deviation from where we assumed the mean; and
◦ 𝒄 is the class size
Mean: SOLUTION
σ𝒌
𝒊=𝟏 𝒇𝒊 𝒅
Short Method ഥ = 𝑨. 𝑴. +
𝒙 𝒏
𝒄

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 𝑴𝒊 𝒅 𝒇𝒊 𝒅
1-10 4 5.5
11-20 2 15.5
21-30 6 25.5
31-40 3 35.5
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟓
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
Median
𝒏
𝟐 −< 𝑪𝑭𝒎𝒅𝒏−𝟏
𝑴𝒅𝒏 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝒎𝒅𝒏 + 𝒄
𝒇𝒎𝒅𝒏
where
◦ 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝒎𝒅𝒏 is the lower class boundary of the median class;
◦ 𝒇𝒎𝒅𝒏 is the frequency of the median class;
◦ < 𝑪𝑭𝒎𝒅𝒏−𝟏 is the less than cumulative frequency of the class before the median class; and
◦ 𝒄 is the class size
 𝒏
−<𝑪𝑭𝒎𝒅𝒏−𝟏
Median: SOLUTION FORMULA: 𝑴𝒅𝒏 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝒎𝒅𝒏 + 𝟐
𝒇𝒎𝒅𝒏
𝒄

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 < 𝑪𝑭

1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟓
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
Mode
𝒇𝑴𝒐 − 𝒇𝟏
𝑴𝒐 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑴𝒐 + 𝒄
𝟐𝒇𝑴𝒐 − 𝒇𝟏 − 𝒇𝟐

where
◦ 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑴𝒐 is the lower class boundary of the modal class;
◦ 𝒇𝑴𝒐 is the frequency of the modal class;
◦ 𝒇𝟏 is the frequency of the class before the modal class;
◦ 𝒇𝟐 is the frequency of the class after the modal class; and
◦ 𝒄 is the class size
 𝒇𝑴𝒐−𝒇𝟏
Mode: SOLUTION FORMULA: 𝑴𝒐 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑴𝒐 + 𝒄
𝟐𝒇𝑴𝒐−𝒇𝟏−𝒇𝟐

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊
1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟓
Measures of
Location
NOEMI ANN S. DE GUZMAN

INSTRUCTOR

15
Measures of Location
The measures of location are the extension of the median concept that divide a set into equal
parts.

The common measures of location are quartiles, deciles, and percentiles.

The quartiles divide the data set into four equal parts.

The deciles divide the data into 10 equal parts.

The percentiles divide the data into 100 equal parts.

Measures of Location for
Ungrouped Data
To compute for the desired location, first we need to arrange the data set in ascending order. Then
compute for the location using
𝑡ℎ
𝑛𝑘 1
𝑃𝑘 = +
100 2

where
◦ 𝑛 is the total number of observations; and
◦ 𝑘 is the desired percentile rank.
 Measures of Location for
Ungrouped Data
Consider the raw data:
8 5 1 2 10 3 4 8 9 7

𝑛𝑘 1 𝑡ℎ
Percentile Formula: 𝑃𝑘 = +2
100
◦ What is the 70th percentile of the data?

◦ What is the 4th decile of the data?

◦ What is the 2nd quartile of the data?

Measures of Location for Grouped
Data
To compute for the desired location, first we need to arrange the data set in ascending order. Then
compute for the location using
𝒏𝒌
𝟏𝟎𝟎 −< 𝑪𝑭𝑷𝒌 −𝟏
𝑷𝒌 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑷𝒌 + 𝒄
𝒇𝑷𝒌

Where
◦ 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑃𝑘 is the lower class boundary of the percentile class;
◦ 𝑓𝑃𝑘 is the frequency of the percentile class;
◦ < 𝐶𝐹𝑃𝑘−1 is the less than cumulative frequency of the class before the percentile class; and
◦ 𝑐 is the class size.
Measure of Central Tendency for
Grouped Data
◦ Example: Fifteen students in a math class took a test, and the results are recorded and summarized in the
given frequency table below. Using the long method formula, find the following.
a. 1st Quartile
b. 7th Decile
c. 60th Percentile
Table 1. Test Scores of Students
Test Scores Frequency
1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
 𝒏𝒌
−<𝑪𝑭𝑷𝒌−𝟏
A. 1st Quartile FORMULA: 𝑷𝒌 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑷𝒌 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒄
𝒇𝑷𝒌

SOLUTION

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 < 𝑪𝑭

1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏=
 𝒏𝒌
−<𝑪𝑭𝑷𝒌−𝟏
B. 7th Decile FORMULA: 𝑷𝒌 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑷𝒌 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒄
𝒇𝑷𝒌

SOLUTION

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 < 𝑪𝑭

1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏=
 𝒏𝒌
−<𝑪𝑭𝑷𝒌−𝟏
C. 60th Percentile FORMULA: 𝑷𝒌 = 𝑳𝑪𝑩𝑷𝒌 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒄
𝒇𝑷𝒌

SOLUTION

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 < 𝑪𝑭

1-10 4
11-20 2
21-30 6
31-40 3
𝒏=
Measures of
Dispersion
NOEMI ANN S. DE GUZMAN

INSTRUCTOR

24
For Ungrouped Data:
VARIANCE and STANDARD DEVIATION
Formula:
Name Formula
Population σ𝑁
𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 − 𝜇
2
2
𝜎 =
Variance 𝑁
Sample σ𝑛
𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥ҧ
2
2
Variance 𝑠 =
𝑛−1
Population 𝜎= 𝜎2 where 𝜇 is the population mean;
Standard ത is the sample mean;
𝑥
Deviation N is the population size; and
n is the sample size.
Sample 𝑠= 𝑠2
Standard
Deviation
 Measures of Central Tendency for
Ungrouped Data
The data provided below is the amount of time (minutes) of ten students spent in solving a math
problem.
8 5 1 2 10 3 4 8 9 7

Mean

Median

Mode
VARIANCE: SOLUTION

𝒙𝒊 ഥ
𝒙𝒊 − 𝒙 ഥ)𝟐
(𝒙𝒊 − 𝒙
8
5
1
2
10
3
4
8
9
7
For Grouped Data:
VARIANCE and STANDARD DEVIATION
Name Formula
Population Variance σ𝑁
𝑖=1 𝑓𝑖 𝑀𝑖 − 𝜇
2
2
𝜎 =
𝑁
Sample Variance σ𝑛
𝑖=1 𝑓𝑖 𝑀𝑖 − 𝑥ҧ
2
2
𝑠 =
𝑛−1
Population Standard 𝜎= 𝜎2 where 𝜇 is the population mean;
Deviation 𝑥ҧ is the sample mean;
fi is the class frequency;
Sample Standard 𝑠= 𝑠2 Mi is the class mark;
N is the population size; and
Deviation n is the sample size.
VARIANCE: SOLUTION

Class Interval 𝒇𝒊 𝑴𝒊 ഥ
𝑴𝒊 − 𝒙 ഥ)𝟐
(𝑴𝒊 − 𝒙 ഥ)𝟐
𝒇𝒊 (𝑴𝒊 − 𝒙
1-10 4 5.5
11-20 2 15.5
21-30 6 25.5
31-40 3 35.5
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟓
Reference:

1. Icutan et.al (2014). Statistics with Probability: A Comprehensive Approach (2nd ed). Jimcyville
Publications. Philippines.

2. Introductory Statistics (2013). Volume 1 of 2. OpenStax College. Rice University. Houston,

Texas.