MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY

MODE

Meaning
The mode refers to that value in a distribution, which occur most frequently. It is an actual
value, which has the highest concentration of items in and around it.

Computation of the Mode

1. Ungrouped or Raw Data

For ungrouped data or a series of individual observations, mode is often found by mere
inspection.

Example 1:
2 , 7, 10, 15, 10, 17, 8, 10, 2

 Mode = M0 = 10

In some cases the mode may be absent while in some cases there may be more than one
mode.

Example 2:
1) 12, 10, 15, 24, 30 (no mode)

2) 7, 10, 15, 12, 7, 14, 24, 10, 7, 20, 10

∴ The modes are 7 and 10

2. Grouped Data

a) Discrete Distribution
For Discrete distribution, see the highest frequency and corresponding value of X is
mode. A discrete variable is the one whose outcomes are measured in fixed numbers.

b) Continuous Distribution
See the highest frequency then the corresponding value of class interval is called the
modal class. Then apply the following formula:

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 f1−f0
Mode = M0 = l1+ xi
(f1−f0 )+(f
1−f2 )

Where: 𝑙1 = the lower value of the class in which the lies

𝑓1 = the frequency of the class in which the mode lies

𝑓0 = the frequency of the class preceding the modal class
𝑓2 = the frequency of the class succeeding the modal class
𝑖 = the class interval of the modal classs

NOTE: While applying the above formula, we should ensure that the class-intervals are
uniform throughout. If the class-intervals are not uniform, then they should be made uniform
on the assumption that the frequencies are evenly distributed throughout the class.

Example 3:
Let us take the following frequency distribution:

Class Intervals Frequency

30−40 4
40−50 6
50−60 8
60−70 12
70−80 9
80−90 7
90−100 4

Required:
Calculate the mode in respect of this series.

Solution
12−8
Mode = M0 = 60+ (12−8)+(12−9)
x10

4
= 60 + 𝑥10 = 65.7 approx.
4+3

3. Determination of Modal Class

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For a frequency distribution modal class corresponds to the maximum frequency. But it is not
possible to identify by inspection the class where the mode lies in any one (or more) of the
following cases:
i. If the maximum frequency is repeated.
ii. If the maximum frequency occurs in the beginning or at the end of the distribution.
iii. If there are irregularities in the distribution, the modal class is determined by the
method of grouping.

Steps for Calculation

1. Prepare a grouping table with 6 columns.
2. In column I, write down the given frequencies.
3. Column II is obtained by combining the frequencies two by two.
4. Leave the 1st frequency and combine the remaining frequencies two by two and write in
column III.
5. Column IV is obtained by combining the frequencies three by three.
6. Leave the 1st frequency and combine the remaining frequencies three by three and write
in column V.
7. Leave the 1st and 2nd frequencies and combine the remaining frequencies three by three
and write in column VI.
8. Mark the highest frequency in each column.
9. Form an analysis table to find the modal class.
10. After finding the modal class use the formula to calculate the modal value.

Example 4
Calculate the mode for the following frequency distribution.

Class Interval 0−5 5−10 10−15 15−20 20−25 25−30 30−35 35−40
Frequency 9 12 15 16 17 15 10 13

Solution
Grouping Table
Class Interval Frequency 2 3 4 5 6
0−5 9
5−10 12 21 36
10−15 15 27 43
15−20 16 31 48

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 20−25 17 33 48
25−30 15 32 42
30−35 10 25 38
35−40 13 23

Analysis Table

Columns 0−5 5−10 10−15 15−20 20−25 25−30 30−35 35−40

1 1
2 1 1
3 1 1
4 1 1 1
5 1 1 1
6 1 1 1
Total 1 2 4 5 2

The maximum occurred corresponding to 20−25, and hence it is the modal class.
17−16
Mode = M0 = 20+ (17−16)+(17−15)
𝑥5

1
M0 = 20 + 𝑥5 = 21.6 approx.
1+2

Example 5
The following table gives some frequency data:

Size of Item Frequency Cummulative Currency

10−20 10 10
20−30 18 28
30−40 25 53
40−50 26 79
50−60 17 96
60−70 4 100
Total 100

Required:
Calculate the mode

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Solution
Grouping Table
Class Interval Frequency 2 3 4 5 6
10−20 10
20−30 18 28 53
30−40 25 43 69
40−50 26 51 68
50−60 17 43 47
60−70 4 21

Analysis Table
Columns 10−20 20−30 30−40 40−50 50−60 60−70
1 1
2 1 1
3 1 1 1 1
4 1 1 1
5 1 1 1
6 1 1 1
Total 1 3 5 5 2

Mode = 3 median - 2 mean

n + 1 100 + 1
Median = = = 50.5th item
2 2

This lies in the class 30−40.

𝑙2 − 𝑙1 40 − 30
𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 = 𝑙1 + (𝑚 − 𝑐 ) = 30 + (50.50 − 28) = 30 + 9 = 39
𝑓 25

Calculation of Arithmetic Mean

Class- Interval Frequency Mid- Points d d'=d/10 fd’

10−20 10 15 −20 −2 −20
20−30 18 25 −10 −1 −18
30−40 25 35 0 0 0
40−50 26 45 10 1 26
50−60 17 55 20 2 34
60−70 4 65 30 3 12
Total 100 34

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Assumed mean= 35

∑ fd′
Median = A + xi
n

34
Median = A35 + x10 = 38.4
100
Mode = 3 median − 2 mean = 3(39) − 2(38.4) = 117 − 76.8 = 40.2

Merits of Mode
1. It is easy to calculate and in some cases it can be located mere inspection.
2. Mode is not at all affected by extreme values.
3. It can be calculated for open-end classes.
4. It is usually an actual value of an important part of the series.
5. In some circumstances it is the best representative of data.

Demerits of Mode
1. It is not based on all observations.
2. It is not capable of further mathematical treatment.
3. Mode is ill-defined generally, it is not possible to find mode in some cases.
4. As compared with mean, mode is affected to a great extent,by sampling fluctuations.
5. It is unsuitable in cases where relative importance of items has to be considered.

QUARTILES

Meaning
The quartiles divide the distribution in four parts. There are three quartiles. The second
quartile (Q2) divides the distribution into two halves and therefore is the same as the median.
The first (lower) quartile (Q1) marks off the first one-fourth, the third (upper) quartile (Q3)
marks off the three-fourth. In other words, the three quartiles Q1, Q2 and Q3 are such that 25
percent of the data fall below Q1, 25 percent fall between Q1 and Q2, 25 percent fall between
Q2 and Q3 and 25 percent fall above Q3.

Computation of the Mode

1. Raw or Ungrouped Data

First arrange the given data in the increasing order and use the formula for Q 1 and Q3.

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 n+1
Q1 = ( ) th item
4
n+1
Q3 = 3 ( ) th item
4

Example 1
Compute quartiles for the data given below:
25,18,30, 8, 15, 5, 10, 35, 40, 45

Solution
5, 8, 10, 15, 18,25, 30,35,40, 45
n+1
Q1 = ( ) th item
4
10 + 1
Q1 = ( ) th item
4
Q1 = (2.75)th item
3
Q1 = 2nd item + ( ) (3rd item − 2nd item)
4
3
Q1 = 8 + ( ) (10 − 8) = 9.5
4

n+1
Q3 = 3 ( ) th item
4

Q 3 = 3(2.75)th item

Q 3 = (8.25)th item

1
Q 3 = 8th item + ( ) (9th item − 8th item)
4

1
𝑄3 = 35 + ( ) (40 − 35) = 36.25
4

2. Discrete Series
Step1: Find cumulative frequencies.
𝑛+1
Step2: Find ( )
4
𝑛+1
Step3: See in the cumulative frequencies, the value just greater than ( ), then the
4

corresponding value of x is Q1.

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 𝑛+1
Step 4: Find 3 ( )
4
𝑛+1
Step 5: See in the cumulative frequencies, the value just greater than 3 ( ), then the
4

corresponding value of x is Q3.

Example 2
Compute quartiles for the data given bellow:

X 5 8 12 15 19 24 30
F 4 3 2 4 5 2 4

Solution :
X F CF
5 4 4
8 3 7
12 2 9
15 4 13
19 5 18
24 2 20
30 4 24
Total 24

N+1 24 + 1 25
Q1 = ( ) th item = ( ) = ( ) = 6.25th item
4 4 4
N+1 24 + 1 25
Q3 = 3 ( ) th item = 3 ( ) = 3 ( ) = 18.25th item
4 4 4

Q1 = 8; Q 3 = 24

3. Continuous Series
Step1: Find cumulative frequencies
N
Step2: Find ( 4 )
𝑁
Step 3: See in the cumulative frequencies, the value just greater than ( 4 ), then the

corresponding class interval is called first quartile class.

3
Step 4: Find 3 ( )
4
3
Step 5: See in the cumulative frequencies the value just greater than 3 (4), then the

corresponding class interval is called 3rd quartile class.

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Step 6: Apply the respective formulae.

N
− m1
Q1 = l1 + ( 4 ) x c1
f1

N
3 ( 4 ) − m3
Q 3 = l3 + ( ) xc3
f3

Where: l1 = lower limit of the first quartile class

f1 = frequency of the first quartile class
c1 = width of the first quartile class
m1 = cf preceding the first quartile class
l3 = lower limit of the third quartile class
f3 = frequency of the third quartile class
c3 = width of the third quartile class
m3 = cf preceding the third quartile class

Example 3
The following series relates to the marks secured by students in an examination.

Marks Number of Students

0−10 11
10−20 18
20−30 25
30−40 28
40−50 30
50−60 33
60−70 22
70−80 15
80−90 12
90−100 10

Required:
Find the quartiles.

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Solution:

Marks Number of Students Cummulative Frequency

0−10 11 11
10−20 18 29
20−30 25 54
30−40 28 82
40−50 30 112
50−60 33 145
60−70 22 167
70−80 15 182
80−90 12 194
90−100 10 204
Total 204

N 204 N
( )=( ) = 51; 3 ( ) = 153
4 4 4

51 − 29
Q1 = 20 + ( ) x 10 = 28.8
25

153 − 145
Q1 = 60 + ( ) x 10 = 63.64
22

PERCENTILES
The percentile values divide the distribution into 100 parts each containing 1 percent of the
cases. The percentile (Pk) is that value of the variable up to which lie exactly k% of the total
number of observations.

1. Percentile for Raw Data or Ungrouped Data

Relationship :
P25 = Q1 ; P50 = Q2 = Median and P75 = Q3

Example 4
Calculate P15 for the data given below:
5, 24 , 36 , 12 , 20 , 8

Solution:
Arranging the given values in the increasing order.

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5, 8, 12, 20, 24, 36
15(n + 1)
P15 = ( ) th item
100
15(6 + 1)
P15 = ( ) th item
100
(15x7)
P15 = ( ) th item
100
P15 = (1.05)th item
P15 = 1st item + 0.05(2nd item − 1st item)
P15 = 5 + 0.05(8 − 5) = 5.15

2. Percentile for Grouped Data

Example 5
Find P53 for the following frequency distribution:

Class Interval 0−5 5−10 10−15 15−20 20−25 25−30 30−35 35−40
Frequency 5 8 12 16 20 10 4 3

Solution :
Class Interval Frequency Cummulative Frequency
0−5 5 5
5−10 8 13
10−15 12 25
15−20 16 41
20−25 20 61
25−30 10 71
30−35 4 75
35−40 3 78
Total 78

53N
−m
P53 = l1 + 100 xc
f
53(78)
− 41
P53 = 20 + 100 x5 = 20.085
f

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