GCE A Level Maths 9709

SMIYL
April 2023

5.1 Representation of Data

In this topic we will learn how to:

• draw and interpret cumulative frequency graphs

Cumulative Frequency Graph

A cumulative frequency graph is used to represent grouped continu-
ous data. It is represented in the form of an s-shaped curve.

Cumulative frequency is the total frequency of the previous classes

up to and including the present class.

To draw a cumulative frequency graph you need the following infor-

mation:

• upper bound of a class

• cumulative frequency

To calculate the cumulative frequency, add the frequencies of previous

classes together with that of the current class.

Measures of Central Tendency for Cumulative Frequency Graph

Mode

A cumulative frequency curve represents grouped data, so we cannot

find the mode but instead we can find the modal class. The modal
class is the class with the highest frequency.

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 n-th percentile

To calculate the n-th percentile, we use the formula

xn
n-th percentile =
100

Where x represents the percentile and n represents the sample size.

Lower Quartile

To calculate the lower quartile, we use the formula,

1
q1 = n
4

Where q1 represents the lower quartile.

Upper Quartile

To calculate the upper quartile, we use the formula,

3
q3 = n
4

Where q3 represents the upper quartile.

Intequartile Range

To calculate the interquartile range, we use the formula,

IQR = q3 − q1

Where IQR represents the interquartile range, q3 represents the upper

quartile, q1 represents the lower quartile.

Mean

To calculate the mean when data is displayed in the form of a cumu-

lative frequency curve, we need to first find the mid interval. This is
the middle value for each value. We use the formula,
Σxf
x=
Σf

Where x represents mean, x represents the mid-interval, f represents

the frequency.
Variance

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To calculate the variance, we use the formula,

Σx2 f
σ2 = − x2
Σf

Where σ 2 represents variance, x represents the mid interval, f repre-

sents the frequency, x represents mean.

Standard Deviation

Standard deviation is the square root of variance. Therefore, the

formula for standard deviation is,
s
Σx2 f
σ= − x2
Σf

Where σ represents standard deviation, x represents the mid interval,

f represents the frequency, x represents mean.

Let’s look at some past paper questions.

1. Helen measures the lengths of 150 fish of a certain species in a large pond.
These lengths, correct to the nearest centimetre, are summarised, are sum-
marised in the following table. (9709/52/F/M/20 number 7)

Length (cm) 0−9 10 − 14 15 − 19 20 − 30

Frequency 15 48 66 21

(a) Draw a cumulative frequency graph to illustrate the data.

Find the cumulative frequency,

Length (cm) 0−9 10 − 14 15 − 19 20 − 30
Cumulative Frequency 15 63 129 150

You will notice that there are gaps between the classes. To
remove those gaps we need to do continuity correction. Sim-
ply subtract 0.5 from the lower bounds and add 0.5 to the
upper bounds,

Length (cm) 0 − 9.5 9.5 − 14.5 14.5 − 19.5 19.5 − 30.5

Cumulative Frequency 15 63 129 150

Note: We do not subtract 0.5 from 0 because we would end

up with a negative value for length, which does not exist.

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Now that there are no gaps, we can plot the upper bounds
against the cumulative frequency. Label the y-axis with cu-
mulative frequency. Label the x-axis with the class title.

160

150

140

130

120

110

100
Cumulative Frequency

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Length (cm)

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(b) 40% of these fish have a length of d cm or more. Use your graph to
estimate the value of d.

This means 60% of fish have a length less than d cm. Let’s
find 60% of 150,
60
× 150
100
90

Draw construction lines at a cumulative frequency of 90 and

read off the length,
d = 16.5 cm

Therefore, the final answer is,

d = 16.5 cm

The mean length of these 150 fish is 15.295 cm.

(c) Calculate an estimate for the variance of the lengths of the fish.

The formula for variance is,

Σx2 f
σ2 = − x2
Σf

Σx2 f
We already have the mean, we need to find Σf . x repre-
sents the mid intervals so let’s find x,
Mid Interval 4.75 12 17 25
Frequency 15 48 66 21

Note: Use the classes after continuity correction to find the

mid interval.

Σx2 f
Now that we have the mid interval, let’s find Σf ,

Σx2 f 4.752 (15) + 122 (48) + 172 (66) + 252 (21)

=
Σf 150

Σx2 f
= 262.99653
Σf

Note: Remember that f represents frequency NOT cumu-

lative frequency.

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Substitute into the formula for variance,

Σx2 f
σ2 = − x2
Σf

σ 2 = 262.99653 − (15.295)2
σ 2 = 29.059225
σ 2 = 29.1

Therefore, the final answer is,

σ 2 = 29.1

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2. The heights in cm of 160 sunflower plants were measured. The results are
summarised on the following cumulative frequency curve. (9709/53/M/J/21
number 1)

160

140

120
Cumulative Frequency

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 40 80 120 160 200 240
Height (cm)

(a) Use the graph to estimate the number of plants with heights less than
100 cm.

Draw construction lines at the height of 100 cm and read off

the respective cumulative frequency,

60

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 Therefore, the final answer is,

60 plants

(b) Use the graph to estimate the 65th percentile of the distribution.

The formula to find the nth percentile is,

xn
100

Substitute the value of x and n,

(65)(160)
100
104

Draw construction lines at a cumulative frequency of 104

and read off the respective height,

136

Therefore, the final answer is,

136

(c) Use the graph to estimate the interquartile range of the heights of
these plants.

The formula to find the interquartile range is,

IQR = q3 − q1

To find the upper quartile, use the formula,

3
q3 = n
4
3
q3 = (160)
4
q3 = 120

Draw construction lines at a cumulative frequency of 120

and read off the respective height,

q3 = 150

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To find the lower quartile, use the formula,
1
q1 = n
4
1
q1 = (160)
4
q1 = 40

Draw construction lines at a cumulative frequency of 40 and

read off the respective height,

q1 = 76

Substitute into the formula for interquartile range,

IQR = q3 − q1

IQR = 150 − 76
IQR = 74

Therefore, the final answer is,

IQR = 74