Skewness:

Skewness is lack of symmetry of the data, which a

descriptive statistical measure used to measure the shape
of the curve drawn from the frequency distribution or to
measure the direction of the variation.
There are three types of skewness
1. No skewness (symmetrical)
2. Positive or right skewness
3. Negative or left skewness
No skewness or symmetric distribution
In this case the shape of the frequency distribution of
given data neither more elongated on left hand side nor
righthand side ie. equally elongated to the right as well as
to the left side. In this case mean, median and mode are
lie on same point ie. mean = median= mode.
Positive skewness:
A distribution of the data is said to have positive skewness
or right skewed if the curve drawn from the data is more
elongated to the right side.
Mathematically, mean> median> mode
Negative skewness:
A distribution of the data is said to have negative
skewness or left skewed if the curve drawn from the data
is more elongated to the left side.
. Mathematically, Mean< median<Mode
Karl person’s coefficient of skewness, SK(P):
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛−𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑋̅−𝑀𝑜
= =
𝑠.𝑑. 𝜎
Interpretation:
Sk(P) = 0 , no skewness( distribution is symmetric)
Sk(P) > 0 , Positive skewness
Sk(P) < 0 , negative skewness
If mode is ill- defined
Karl person’s coefficient of skewness SK(P):
3(𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛−𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛) 3(𝑋̅−𝑀𝑑 )
= =
𝑠.𝑑. 𝜎

Bowley’s coefficient of skewness, (SK(B):

𝑄 +𝑄 −2𝑀𝑑
= 3 1
𝑄3 −𝑄1
Interpretation:
Sk(B) = 0 , no skewness( distribution is symmetric)
Sk(B) > 0 , Positive skewness
Sk(B) < 0 , negative skewness
Note:
If data is in open-ended form the suitable measure of
skewness is Bowley’s coefficient of skewness.
Median – measure of central tendency
Quartile deviation (QD) = measure of dispersion
Bowley’s coefficient of skewness = measure of skewness

40 to 55
N= 1000

Kurtosis
It measures the peakedness or flatness of the curve which
is drawn from the given data. The kurtosis are three types
1. Mesokurtic Curve( normal curve):
In the case , the curve is neither peaked nor flat
2. Leptokurtic Curve:
In this case, the curve is more peaked than mesokurtic
curve.
3. Platykurtic Curve:
In this case, the curve is flatter than mesokurtic curve.
 Percentile coefficient of Kurtosis (Kelly’s Coefficient
of Kurtosis):

1
(𝑄 −𝑄1 )
2 3
K=
𝑃90 −𝑃10
Interpretation:
K= 0.263, mesokurtic curve (normal curve)
K>0.263, Leptokurtic Curve
K<0.263, Platykurtic Curve
Moments
Moments are arithmetic mean of the different powers of
the deviations of the given observations from the chosen
value. If the deviations are taken from the exact arithmetic
mean of the series, then the moments from these
deviations is known as central moments. If the deviations
are taken from some arbitrary value, then the moments
from these observations is known as raw moments.
There are two types of moments which are as follows:
- Central moments
 - Raw moments
Central moments (first four moments about mean)
For individual series:
1
𝜇𝑟 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ )𝒓 , r = 1, 2, 3, 4,…….
𝑛
In particular the first four moments are

1
̅) = 0
𝜇1 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ ) = 𝟎)
(∵∑(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑛
1
̅ )𝟐
𝜇2 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑛
1
̅ )𝟑
𝜇3 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑛
1
𝜇4 = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ )𝟒
𝑛
For discrete and continuous series:
1
𝜇𝑟 = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ )𝒓 , r = 1, 2, 3, 4,…….
𝑁
In particular the first four moments are

1
𝜇1 = ̅) = 0
∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ ) = 𝟎)
(∵∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑁
1
𝜇2 = ̅ )𝟐
∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑁
1
𝜇3 = ̅ )𝟑
∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑿
𝑁
1
𝜇4 = ∑(𝒇𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ )𝟒
𝑁
Note: 𝜇1 = 0, 𝜇2 = Variance= 𝜎 2

Raw moments:
(First four moments about origin, arbitrary value, assumed
value)
For individual series
1
𝜇𝑟 ′ = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝒓 , r = 1, 2, 3, 4,…….
𝑛
Where A = assumed mean
In particular the first four raw moments are

1 1
𝜇1 ′ = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑨) = ∑𝑼 (∵ U= X-A)
𝑛 𝑛
1 1
𝜇2 ′ = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟐 = ∑ 𝑼𝟐
𝑛 𝑛
1 1
𝜇3 ′ = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟑 = ∑ 𝑼𝟑
𝑛 𝑛
1 1
𝜇4 ′ = ∑(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟒 = ∑ 𝑼𝟒
𝑛 𝑛
For discrete series:
1
𝜇𝑟 ′ = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝒓 , r = 1, 2, 3, 4,…….
𝑁
In particular case
1 1
𝜇1 ′ = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑨) = ∑ 𝒇𝑼 (∵ U= X-A)
𝑁 𝑁
1 1
𝜇2 ′ = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟐 = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟐
𝑁 𝑁
1 1
𝜇3 ′ = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟑 = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟑
𝑁 𝑁
1 1
𝜇4 ′ = ∑ 𝒇(𝑿 − 𝑨)𝟒 = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟒
𝑁 𝑁

Continuous series:

′ ℎ𝑟 𝑿−𝑨 𝒓
𝜇𝑟 = ∑𝒇( ) , r = 1, 2, 3, 4,…….
𝑁 𝒉
In particular case
ℎ 𝑿−𝑨 ℎ
𝜇1 ′ = ∑ 𝒇 ( )= ∑ 𝒇𝑼
𝑁 𝒉 𝑁
𝑿−𝑨
(∵ U= ,A = assumed mean, h= width of the class)
𝒉
′ ℎ2 𝑿−𝑨 𝟐 ℎ2
𝜇2 = ∑𝒇( ) = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟐
𝑁 𝒉 𝑁
′ ℎ3 𝑿−𝑨 𝟑 ℎ3
𝜇3 = ∑𝒇( ) = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟑
𝑁 𝒉 𝑁
ℎ4 𝑿−𝑨 𝟒 ℎ4
𝜇4 ′ = ∑𝒇( ) = ∑ 𝒇𝑼𝟒
𝑁 𝒉 𝑁

Note:
It will be better to use raw moments when arithmetic
mean is not a whole number ie. fractional value. To
overcome this problem (mean is not in whole number) raw
moment is computed first which makes computation very
comfortable.
Note:
𝜇1 ′ =𝑋̅ − 𝐴
̅ = 𝝁𝟏 ′ + 𝑨
𝑿
For A = 0, 𝑋̅ = 𝜇1 ′ ( raw moment about origin)
Relationship between raw moments and central
moments.
The relationship between raw moments and central
moments are given below
𝜇1 = 𝜇1 ′ - 𝜇1 ′ =0
𝜇2 = 𝜇2 ′ − (𝜇1 ′ )2 = variance
𝜇3 = 𝜇3 ′ − 3𝜇2 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 2(𝜇1 ′ )3
𝜇4 =𝜇4 ′ − 4𝜇3 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 6𝜇2 ′ (𝜇1 ′ )2 − 3(𝜇1 ′ )4

41. The first four moments about origin of a frequency

distribution are -2, 14 , -20 ,50. Find first four central
moments. Also compute mean and sd.
Solution:
A= 0 , 𝜇1 ′ = −2, 𝜇2 ′ = 14 , 𝜇3 ′ = −20, 𝜇4 ′ = 50
We know that
𝜇1 = 𝜇1 ′ - 𝜇1 ′ = -2 –(-2)=0

𝜇2 = 𝜇2 ′ − (𝜇1 ′ )2 = 14 − (−2)2 =14 -4=10

𝜇3 = 𝜇3 ′ − 3𝜇2 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 2(𝜇1 ′ )3
= −20 − 3 × 14 × (−2) + 2(−2)3
=
𝜇4 =𝜇4 ′ − 4𝜇3 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 6𝜇2 ′ (𝜇1 ′ )2 − 3(𝜇1 ′ )4
=50 − 4 × (−20) × (−2) + 6 × 14 × (−2)2 − 3(−2)4
Mean(𝑋̅)= 𝜇1 ′ + 𝐴 = 𝜇1 ′ + 0= 𝜇1 ′ = −2
Standard deviation(σ) =√𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =√𝜇2 =√10 =…..

Question:
In a certain distribution the first four moments about
arbitrary value (Point) 4 are 1.5, 17 , -30 and 108
respectively. Compute first four central moments , mean
and standard deviation. Also compute CV.
Solution:
A= 4 , 𝜇1 ′ = 1.5, 𝜇2 ′ = 17 , 𝜇3 ′ = −30, 𝜇4 ′ = 108

Measure of skewness based on Moments:

𝜇3 2
Coefficient of skewness(β1)=
𝜇2 3
β1 = 0, No skewness
β1 > 0 positive skewness

This formula does not work well when 𝜇3 is in negative

form. So to overcome this problem Karl pearson
developed the another formula
𝜇3 2 𝜇3
Coefficient of skewness(𝛾1 ) =√β1 = √ 3 =
𝜇2 √𝜇2 3
Interpretation:
𝛾1 = 0, No skewness
𝛾1 > 0 positive skewness
𝛾1 < 0,Negative skewness
Measure of Kurtosis based on Moments:
𝜇4
Coefficient of Kurtosis(β2)=
𝜇2 2
Interpretation:
β2=3 , mesokurtic curve (normal curve)
β2>3 , Leptokurtic Curve
β2<3 , Platykurtic Curve
𝛾2 = β2 − 3 = 0, Mesokurtic curve
𝛾2 > 0 leptokurtic
𝛾2 < 0,platykurtic

Question:
Calculate the first four central moments from the
following information. Also determine measure of
central tendency, measure of dispersion, skewness and
kurtosis of the given distribution.
Class 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Frequency 5 12 20 7 6
Solution:
Let A = 75 , h= 10 = (55-75)/10=-20/10 =-2
Class Mid value(X) frequency(f) d= (X-A)/h fd fd^2 fd^3 fd^4
50-60 55 5 -2 -10 20 -40 80
60-70 65 12 -1 -12 12 -12 12
70-80 A=75 20 0 0 0 0 0
80-90 85 7 1 7 7 7 7
90-100 95 6 2 12 24 48 96
105 N=50 ∑fd=-3 63 3 195
The first four raw moments can be estimated by following
relations
ℎ 𝑿−𝑨 ℎ 10
𝜇1 ′ = ∑ 𝒇 ( ) = ∑ 𝒇𝒅 = ×(-3) = -0.6
𝑁 𝒉 𝑁 50
𝑿−𝑨
(∵ d= ,A = assumed mean, h= width of the class)
𝒉
′ ℎ2 𝟐 102
𝜇2 = ∑ 𝒇𝒅 = ×63 =126
𝑁 50
ℎ3 103
𝜇3 ′ = 𝟑
∑ 𝒇𝒅 = ×3 =60
𝑁 50
ℎ4 104
𝜇4 ′ = 𝟒
∑ 𝒇𝒅 = ×195 = 39000
𝑁 50

The first four central moments are:

𝜇1 = 𝜇1 ′ - 𝜇1 ′ = -0.6 –(-0.6)=0

𝜇2 = 𝜇2 ′ − (𝜇1 ′ )2 = 126 − (−0.6)2 =126 -0.36 =125.64

𝜇3 = 𝜇3 ′ − 3𝜇2 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 2(𝜇1 ′ )3
=60−3 × 126 × (−0.6) + 2(−0.6)3
=286.368
𝜇4 =𝜇4 ′ − 4𝜇3 ′ 𝜇1 ′ + 6𝜇2 ′ (𝜇1 ′ )2 − 3(𝜇1 ′ )4
= 39000 − 4 × 60 × (−0.6) + 6 × 126 × (−0.6)2 − 3(−0.6)4
= 39415.771

Measure of central tendency;

Mean(𝑋̅)= 𝜇1 ′ + 𝐴 =−0.6 + 75= 74.4
Measure of dispersion:
Standard deviation(σ) =√𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =√𝜇2 =√125.64 =…..
Coefficients of skewness based on moments:
 𝜇3 2
Coefficient of skewness(β1)=
𝜇2 3

(286.368)2
Coefficient of skewness(β1)=
125.64 3
=0.041>0 , positively skeweed
Coefficient of kurtosis based on moments
𝜇 39415.771
Coefficient of Kurtosis(β2)= 42 = 2 =2.49
𝜇2 125.64
Interpretation:
β2=3 , mesokurtic curve (normal curve)
β2>3 , Leptokurtic Curve
β2<3 , Platykurtic Curve

Since β2=2.49<3, so the distribution is platykurtic.