MDPM 1033

CHAPTER 4:
MEASURES OF CENTRAL
TENDENCY

MEASURES OF CENTRAL
TENDENCY
A type of measure
Used to describe a group of data
Tell about the center, middle part and
most frequent data which was
existing
Mean, median, mode

A case (Example)
Time (minutes) taken per person at
KUIS One Stop Center counter in an
hour observation:
5
68
7
2
6 2 7
2
Find the mean of the time taken per
person.

1. Ungrouped Data
MEAN

Average
It referred to as arithmetic mean and
most commonly used in measures of
tendency.
Formula: X = Total observations = X
Sample size
n
=5 + 6+8+7+ 2+ 6+2+7+2
9
=5
4

Ex: Lets say the number of patients to

a clinic
per day for a week is:
110 112 98 100 95 100
Generally how many patients per
day?

MODE
Most frequent occurring value
5
6 8
7
2
6 2 7

2 is the mode because it exists most

frequent (3 times compared to other
value)

MEDIAN
Is a value
distribution.
Eg :

located

in

the
2

CENTER

Step 1: Arrange them by order.

2
2
2
5
6
6

of
7

a
2

Step 2: Choose the observation in the center

(position n+1 )
2
2

Step 3: Find the median value

So Median = 6

7 8

Calculate the median:

88
71
60
80
59

44

76

82

Solution:

Exercise 1:
A real estate broker wants to determine
the reasonable selling price of 10 houses
listed at the following prices (RM):
67 000 105 000
248 000
95 000
215 000
116 000
167 000
195 000
122 000 189 000
Find the mean and median of the selling
price.
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Exercise 2:
Mathematics Test mark for Class A:
25
0
35
21 58 87
100
16
10
3
12
24 27 17
87 19
Find the mean, mode and median.

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GROUPED DATA
- Mean
- Mode
- Median

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GROUPED DATA
CGPA (Class)

NO. OF
STUDENTS (f)

MID POINT (x)

2.00-2.40

2.40-2.80
2.80-3.20

5
13

2.6
3.0

3.20-3.60

3.4

3.60-4.00

3.8

Total

f=30

2.00 +2.40
= 2.2
2

fx

2 x 2.2 =
4.4

fx=
12

MEAN (continue)
Mean = fx where
f
mid point

f = frequency;
x = class

From the example:

Mean =
f

fx

13

MEDIAN
Median = Lm +

n/2 -

fm-
fm

.C

Where:
Lm = lower class boundary of the median class
n = sample size / total frequency
fm-
= cumulative frequency before the median
class
fm = frequency of the median class
C = median class size/class width (Upper CB Lower CB)
How can you get all the information needed?

14

Step to find median for

grouped data:
1. Find the cumulative frequency.
2. Position of median = n/2 @ f /2
3. Determine the median class by
referring to the column of
cumulative frequency.
4. Apply the formula, Median = Lm +
-

fm-

n/2

.C
fm
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How to find the value of C?

C actually is a difference between upper
class boundary (UCB) and lower class
boundary (LCB).
There are two types of class:

EXAMPLE OF CLASS
(Class Limit)

HOW IS IT
DIFFERENCE?
- Lets say we
choose the 2nd row

TYPE 1
21-25

TYPE 2
20-25

26-30
31-35
36-40

25-30
30-35
35-40

41-45
C = UCB LCB
= 30.5 25.5
= 5

40-45
C = UCB LCB
= 30 25
= 5
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Solution - Median
(continue)
FREQUENCY
CUMULATIVE
POSITION OF

CGPA
(Class
Boundary)

(f)

FREQUENCY

DATA
= 30/2 = 15

2.00 - 2.40

1-2

2.40 - 2.80

3-7

**2.80 3.20

13

20

8-20

3.20 - 3.60

26

21-26

3.60 - 4.00

30

27-30

Total

30
17

Solution:
Median = Lm +
C

n/2 -

fm-

fm
=

18

MODE
Mode:

X Lmo

d1
.C
d1 d 2

Where:
= lower class boundary of the modal class.
d = difference between the frequency of the
Lmo
modal class and frequency before it.
d = difference between the frequency of the
modal class and frequency after it.
C
= class size (UCB LCB)

How can you get all the information

needed?
19

CGPA
(Class
boundary)

FREQUENCY
(f)

2.00-2.40

2.40-2.80
**2.80-3.20
3.20-3.60
3.60-4.00

5
13
6
4

d = 13 5 = 8
d = 13 6 = 7

Step to Find Mode for grouped data:

1.Use the same table, identify the modal class
with the highest frequency.
2.Applying the formula Mode: Lm +
d
C
d + d

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Solution:

Mode, X Lmo

d1
.C
d1 d 2

21

Relationship Among Mean,

Median and Mode
If mode = mean = median data
normally
distributed.
If mode < median < mean data
skewed to
the right.
If mode > median > mean data
skewed to
the left.

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MEAN
ADVANTAGES
1. It is well known it refers to
average.
2. A fairly easy to calculate.
3. Takes into account all the
observations.
4. Suitable for algebraic
manipulation.
5. Used in statistical theory.

DISADVANTAGES
1. The value of mean may be
affected by extreme values.
2. The mean may not
correspond to an actual
value. (ex: mean number of
children is 2.4).
3. Unlike the median and
mode, the mean cannot be
found graphically.
4. The value may be different
when calculating mean for
grouped data or ungrouped23

MEDIAN
ADVANTAGES
1. It is easy to understand.

DISADVANTAGES
1. The median gives the value

2. It always exists.

of only one (the middle

3. Extreme values do not

item).

affect its value.

4. Can be used for open-ended
classes.
5. Do not need to know all the

2. In grouped data, the value

of the median can only be
estimated.
3. The median is not suitable

values to compute the

for mathematical treatment

median.

in advanced work.

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MODE
ADVANTAGES
1. It is easy to understand.
2. Extreme values do not
affect its value.
3. The mode is an actual
value. (ex: for the number

DISADVANTAGES
1. It can be more than one
modal value in a data set.
2. In grouped data, the value
of the mode can only be
estimated.

of children in a family, mode 3. Mode is not suitable for

is 2).
4. Can be used to describe

other kind of statistical

calculation.

both quantitative and

qualitative data.

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