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CH-2.1 Measures of Central Tendency
CH-2.1 Measures of Central Tendency
TENDENCY
Unit 2.1 Measures Of Central Tendency
❖ Central tendency:
An average is a number expressing the central part or typical value in a set of data,
in particular the mean, median and the mode, hence they are also known as measures
of central tendency.
1. Arithmetic mean
2. Geometric mean
3. Harmonic mean
4. Median
5. Mode
6. Partitional values
❖ Arithmetic mean:
It is defined as the ratio of sum of the given set of values to the total number of
values. It is denoted by “ 𝑥 ”.
∑𝑥
a) For discrete data without frequency: 𝑥 =
𝑛
∑ 𝑓𝑥
b) For discrete data with frequency: 𝑥 = ∑𝑓
∑ 𝑓𝑥
c) For continuous data: 𝑥 = ∑𝑓
…… (where x is mid value or class mark)
d) Combined A.M.: If there are two groups containing n1, n2 observations with
their respective arithmetic means x̅1 and x2̅ respectively then combined
𝑛1𝑥1+𝑛2𝑥2
mean (x̅) of the two groups taken together is given by: 𝑥 =
𝑛1+𝑛2
Properties of A.M.:
• If all the values are same (say m), then A.M. is also m.
• Sum of deviations(difference) of a set of observations from their AM is
zero. ∑(𝑥 − 𝑥̅ ) = 0
Features of AM:
Problem No. 1: Compute the mean weight of a group of BBA students of St. Xavier’s
College from the following data:
❖ Geometric mean:
Properties of G.M.:
• If all the values are same (say m), then G.M. is also m.
• G.M is calculated only for positive set of numbers/observations.
• G.M is zero even if one of the observations is zero.
• If z = xy, then G.M. (z) = G.M.(x) × G.M. (y)
𝑥 𝐺𝑀 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
• If z = 𝑦 , then G.M. (z) = 𝐺𝑀 𝑜𝑓 𝑦
• Logarithm of GM for a set of observations is the AM of the logarithm of the
1
observations i.e. log GM = 𝑛 ∑ log 𝑥
Features of GM:
➢ Difficult to calculate.
➢ Best for finding Index Number and average rates.
Solution:
GM = √6 × 8 × 12 × 36 = 𝟏𝟐
4
❖ Harmonic mean:
For a given set of non-zero observations, the harmonic mean is defined as reciprocal
of the A.M of the reciprocals of the observations.
𝑛 𝑛
a) For discrete data without frequency: H.M = 1 1 1 1 = ∑(1/𝑥)
+ + +⋯+
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥𝑛
∑𝑓 ∑𝑓
b) For discrete data with frequency: H.M = 𝑓1 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 = ∑(𝑓/𝑥)
+ 2 + 3 +⋯+ 𝑛
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥𝑛
∑𝑓
c) For continuous data: H.M = ∑(𝑓/𝑥)…… (where x is mid value or class mark)
Properties of H.M:
• If all the values are same (say m), then H.M. is also m.
• If any one of the observations is zero, then the H.M is not defined.
• If there are two groups with 𝑛1 and 𝑛2 observations and 𝐻1 and 𝐻2 as
respective HM’s than the combined HM is given by
𝑛1 +𝑛2
Combined HM = 𝑛1 𝑛
+ 2
𝐻1 𝐻2
Solution: Now, HM = 𝑓1 𝑓
∑𝑓
𝑓 𝑓 = 4.44 X 2 4 8 16
+ 2+ 3+ 4
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥4
f 2 3 3 2
❖ Median:
Median is that value which divides the series in two equal parts. In other words, it
is the middlemost value when the observations are arranged in ascending or
descending order of magnitude. The value of the median is dependent on the
position of the given observation.
Properties of median:
Features of Median:
❖ Mode:
The value that occurs maximum number of times is known as modal value or mode. In
other words, the value that has maximum frequency i.e. the most common value is
known as mode.
We may come across a distribution having more than one mode. Such distribution is
known as multi-modal distribution. Bi-modal distribution is one having two modes.
Ex. 5, 6, 7, 2, 5, 2, 3
Furthermore, it also appears from the definition that mode is not always defined.
Ex. 2, 5, 15, 60
Where,
L = lower class boundary of modal class i.e. class having highest frequency
𝑓0 = frequency of pre-modal class
𝑓1 = frequency of modal class
𝑓2 = frequency of post-modal class
h = class width
Features of Mode:
❖ Partitional values:
The values which divide the set of observations into number of equal parts is known
as partitional values.
1. Quartiles: The value which divides the set of observations in four equal
parts is known as quartiles. There are total three quartiles 𝑄1 , 𝑄2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄3 .
𝑛+1 𝑡ℎ
𝑄𝑟 = 𝑟 ( 4
) term
Where, r = 1, 2 or 3
2. Deciles: The value which divides the set of observations in ten equal parts is
known as deciles. There are total nine deciles.
𝑛+1 𝑡ℎ
𝐷𝑟 = 𝑟 ( 10 ) term
3. Percentiles: The value which divides the set of observations in one hundred
equal parts is known as percentiles. There are total ninety-nine percentiles.
𝑛+1 𝑡ℎ
𝑃𝑟 = 𝑟 ( ) term
100
❖ Weighted Average:
Weighted averages are considered when all the observations are not of equal
importance.
∑ 𝑤𝑖 𝑥 𝑖
1. Weighted AM = ∑ 𝑤𝑖
∑ 𝑤𝑖 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥𝑖
2. Weighted GM = Ante log ( ∑ 𝑤𝑖
)
∑ 𝑤𝑖
3. Weighted HM = 𝑤
∑ 𝑖
𝑥𝑖
3. Which measure(s) of central tendency is(are) considered for finding the average rates?
{}
a) AM
b) GM
c) HM
d) Both b) and c)
4. When a firm registers both profits and losses, which of the following measure of central
tendency cannot be considered? {}
a) AM
b) GM
c) Median
d) Mode
5. Which of the following measure(s) satisfies a linear relationship between two variables?
{}
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) All of these
d) None
8. [Jan 21] Which of the following measure does not possess mathematical properties?
{}
a) AM
b) GM
c) HM
d) Median
10. The average of a series of overlapping averages, each of which is based on a certain number
of items within a series is known as {}
a) Moving average
b) Weighted average
c) Simple average
d) None
12. Half of the numbers in an ordered set have values less than the _________ and half will have
values greater than the ________. {}
a) Mean, median
b) Median, median
c) Mode, mean
d) None
c) Both
d) None
18. What is the modal value for the numbers 5,8,6,4,10,15,18,10? {}
a) 18
b) 10
c) 14
d) None of these.
19. What is the GM for the numbers 8,24 and 40? {}
a) 24
b) 12
3
c) 8. √15
d) 10
20. The harmonic mean for the numbers 8,24 and 40? {}
a) 2.00
b) 3.33
c) 2.90
3
d) - √30
21. If the AM and GM for the two numbers are 6.50 and 6 respectively then the two numbers are
{}
a) 6 and 7
b) 9 and 4
c) 10 and 3
d) 8 and 5
22. If the AM and HM for the two numbers are 5 and 3.2 respectively then the GM will be {}
a) 16.00
b) 4.10
c) 4.05
d) 4.00
23. What is the value of the first quartile for observations 15,18,10,20,23,28,12,16? {}
a) 17
b) 16
c) 12.75
d) 12
25. If there are two groups containing 30 and 20 observations and having 50 and 60 as arithmetic
means, then the combined arithmetic mean is {}
a) 55
b) 56
c) 54
d) 52
26. The average salary of a group of unskilled workers is ₹ 10,000 and that of a group of skilled
workers is ₹ 15,000. If the combined salary is ₹ 12,000, then what is the percentage of skilled
workers? {}
a) 40%
b) 50%
c) 60%
d) None of these
27. If there are two groups with 75 and 65 as harmonic means and containing 15 and 13
observations then the combined HM is given by {}
a) 65
b) 70.36
c) 70
d) 71
28. If a variable assumes the values 1,2,3….5 with frequencies as 1,2,3……5 then what is the
AM? {}
11
a)
3
b) 5
c) 4
d) 4.50
29. If the AM and GM for 10 observations are both 15, then the value of HM is {}
a) Less than 15
b) More than 15
c) 15
d) Cannot be determined
c) 24
d) 6
31. [Nov 18] If the frequencies of three series are 50, 60 and 90 and their means are 12, 15 and
20 resp. then the mean of their composite series is {}
a) 16
b) 15.5
c) 16.5
d) 14.5
32. [May 19] In a moderately skewed distribution, the values of mean and median are 12 and
18 resp. The value of mode is {}
a) 6
b) 12
c) 15
d) 30
34. [Jan 21] If there are two groups with n1 and n2 observations and H1 and H2 are resp.
Harmonic means, then the HM of combined observation is {}
𝑛1 +𝑛2
a) 𝑛1 𝑛2
+
𝐻1 𝐻2
𝑛1 𝐻1+𝑛2 𝐻2
b) 𝑛1 𝑛2
+
𝐻1 𝐻2
𝐻1+𝐻2
c) 𝑛1 𝑛2
+
𝐻1 𝐻2
𝑛
d) 𝑛1 𝑛2
+
𝐻1 𝐻2
35. [Dec 21] If the AM and GM for 10 observations are both 15, then the value of HM is {}
a) Less than 15
b) More than 15
c) 15
d) Cannot be determined
36. [Dec 21] If average mark for a group of 30 girls is 80, a group of boys is 70 and combined
average is 76, then how many are in the boy’s group? {}
a) 21
b) 20
c) 22
d) 19
37. [Dec 21] For a moderately skewed distribution, the median is twice the mean, then the
mode is ______ times the median. {}
a) 3
b) 2
c) 2/3
d) 3/2
38. [Dec 21] The median value of the set of observations 48, 36, 72, 87, 19, 66, 56, 91 is {}
a) 53
b) 87
c) 61
d) 19
39. [July 21] Expenditures of a company (in million rupees) per item in various years
Year Item of expenditure
Salary Fuel Bonus Interest and Taxes
loans
1998 288 98 3 23.4 83
1999 342 112 2.52 32.5 108
2000 324 101 3.84 41.6 74
2001 336 133 3.86 36.4 88
2001 420 142 3.96 49.4 98
What is the average amount of interest per year which the company had to pay during this
period? {}
a) 33.66
b) 36.66
c) 31.66
d) 39.66
42. Two variables x and y are given by y=2x-3. If the median of x is 20, what is the median of y?
{}
a) 20
b) 40
c) 37
d) 35
43. If the relationship between two variable and u and v are given by 2u+v+7=0 and if the AM of
u is 10, then the AM of v is {}
a) 17
b) -17
c) -27
d) 27
44. If x and y are related by x-y-10=0 and mode of x is known to be 23, then the mode of y is
{}
a) 20
b) 13
c) 3
d) 23
46. [Jan 21] If y = 3 + 4.5x and the mode for x-value is 20, then the mode for y-value is {}
a) 3.225
b) 12
c) 24.5
d) 93
47. [July 21] The mean of n observations is X. If K is added to each observation, then the new
mean is {}
a) X
b) X.K
c) X – K
d) X + K
48. [July 21] If y = 3 + 1.9x and mode of x is 15, then the mode of y is {}
a) 15.9
b) 27.8
c) 35.7
d) 31.5
49. [Dec 21] If there are 3 observation 15, 20, 25 then, the sum of deviation of the observations
from their AM is {}
a) 0
b) 5
c) – 5
d) 10
50. [Dec 21] If two variables a and b are related by c = ab, then GM of c is equal to {}
a) GM of a + GM of b
b) GM of a × GM of b
c) GM of a - GM of b
d) GM of a / GM of b
52. [Nov 06] A man travels at a speed of 20 kmph and then returns at a speed of 30 kmph. His
average speed of the whole journey is? {}
a) 25 kmph
b) 24.5 kmph
c) 24 kmph
d) None
53. [Dec 10] A lady at a speed of 20 kmph and returned at a quicker speed. If her average speed
of the whole journey is 24 kmph, find the speed of return journey (in kmph) {}
a) 25
b) 30
c) 35
d) 38
54. [June 10] In a class of 11 students, 3 students were failed in a test and 8 students who
passed secured 10, 11, 20, 15, 12, 14, 26 and 24 marks resp. What will be the median of the
students? {}
a) 12
b) 15
c) 13
d) 13.5
55. [June 17] A person purchases 5 rupees worth of eggs from 10 different markets. You are to
find the average no. of eggs per rupee purchased from all the markets taken together. The
suitable average in this case is: {}
a) AM
b) GM
c) HM
d) None
56. [June 17] The average rate of returns from three different shares are 100%, 200% and 400%
resp. The average rate of return will be: {}
a) 200%
b) 350%
c) 400%
d) 233.33%
57. [May 19] The AM of 15 observations is 9 and the AM of first 9 observations is 11 and then
AM of remaining observations is {}
a) 11
b) 6
c) 5
d) 9
58. [Jan 21] From the records on sizes of shoes sold in a shop, one can compute the following to
determine the most preferred shoe size {}
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Range
59. [July 21] There are n nos. When 50 is subtracted from each of these nos. the sum of the no.
obtained is -10. When 46 is subtracted from each of the original n nos. then the sum of
numbers, so obtained is 70. What is the mean of the original n nos.? {}
a) 56.8
b) 25.7
c) 49.5
d) 53.8
60. [Dec 21] One hundred participants expressed their opinions on recommending a new
product to their friends using the attributes: most unlikely, unlikely, not sure, likely, most
likely. The appropriate measure of central tendency that can be used here is {}
a) Mean
b) Mode
c) GM
d) HM
61. [Dec 21] Along a road there are 5 buildings of apartments marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. No. of
people residing in each building is available. A bus stop is to be setup near one of the
buildings so that the total distance walked by the residents to the bus stop from their
buildings must be kept minimum. One must consider involving _________ to find the
position of the bus stop. {}
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Weighted mean
62. The length of a rod is measured by a tape 10 times. You are to estimate the length of the rod
by averaging these 10 determinations. What is the suitable form of average in this case?
{}
a) A.M
b) G.M
c) H.M
d) None
63. You are given the population of India for the courses of 1981 & 1991. You are to find the
population of India at the middle of the period by averaging these population figures,
assuming a constant rate of increase of population. What is the suitable form of average in
this case? {}
a) A.M
b) G.M
c) H.M
d) None
No. of persons 15 14 42 27 18
a) 34
b) 37
c) 40
d) 43
65. The mean wages of two companies are equal. It signifies that the workers of both the
companies are equally well-off. {}
a) True
b) False
c) Both
d) None
66. The mean wage in factory A is Rs. 6,000 whereas in factory B it is Rs. 5,500. It signifies that,
factory A pays more to all its workers than factory B. {}
a) True
b) False
c) Both
d) None