Describing Data:

Frequency Distributions, and Graphic Presentation

Chapter 2

McGraw-Hill/Irwin The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2008

 Constructing a Frequency Distribution

Step 1: order data

Step 2: The number of classes(k).
A useful rule 2 to the k rule. such that
2k > n, (n # of data)

Step 3: The class interval (i) or width.
i (H-L)/k , i: interval, H: highest value, L:
lowest value

Step 4: starting value<=L, L:lowest value

Step 5: make class and frequency by
starting from L then increase i and stop when
you get k and count frequency in each class.

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 Example:

The prices of 7 cars sold last week are: 5, 7, 5, 15, 12,7,8

Construct frequency ditribution
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Solution: 1. order(5,5,7,7,8,12,15) 2. 2 = 8 > 7 then k=3
15 5
3. interval (i): H=15, L=5 then i = 3 .33 4
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4. Starting value=L=5
5. Frequency distribution
Price (class) # of cars (frequency)
5 up to (<) 9 5
9 up to (<) 13 1
13 up to (<) 17 1
Total 7

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 Midpoint (M)

The midpoint is halfway between the lower limit and

upper limit in each class.

Example: find the midpoint for this table:

Price Frequency M
5 <9 5 (5+9)/2=7
9 < 13 1 (9+13)/2=11
13 <17 1 (13+17)/2=15
Total 7

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 Relative Frequency Distribution

To convert a frequency distribution to a relative frequency

distribution, each of the class frequencies is divided by the
total number of observations. f
f

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 Graphic Presentation of a
Frequency Distribution

The two commonly used graphic forms

are:

Histograms

Cumulative frequency distributions

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 Histogram

Histogram The classes are marked on the horizontal axis

and the class frequencies on the vertical axis. The class
frequencies are represented by the heights of the bars.

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 Cumulative Frequency Distribution

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 Cumulative Frequency Distribution

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 Example:

From previous graph answer the following:

How many vehicles sold: 80

What is class interval: for example: 21-18=3

Estimate median: median (Q2) at 50% or p=50 then from
the graph about $22.5

How much selling 25 or less vehicles: about $20

What percent of vehicle their prices $28.5 or less: about
88%

Estimate inter-quartile range: IQR=Q3-Q1=26-19=7
where Q3:third quartile(75%,p=75), Q1:first quartile(25%,
p=25)

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 End of Chapter 2

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