MEASURES OF

DISPERSION
 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

❖ Dispersion:

The extent to which the variable/data tend to spread about an average value is
called the dispersion of data. Dispersion is the measure of the variation of the
items. Dispersion may also be defined as amount of deviation of the observations,
usually, from an appropriate measure of central tendency.

Two distributions may be identical in respect to its central tendency and yet they
may differ on account of scatterness.

Ex. 1,2,3,4,5 median = 3

-10, -5, 3, 5, 10 median = 3

The two different types of measures of dispersion are:

1. Absolute measure: They are dependent on the unit of the variable and are
not considered for comparison.

2. Relative measure: They are unit free and are considered for comparing two
or more distributions.

Absolute Measure Relative measure

Range (R) Coefficient of Range

Quartile Deviation (QD) Coefficient of Quartile Deviation

Mean Deviation (MD) Coefficient of Mean Deviation

Standard Deviation (SD) Coefficient of Variation

❖ Range:

It is defined as the difference between the largest value and the smallest value of
the given set of series/observations.

1. Range = 𝐿 − 𝑆
𝐿−𝑆
2. Coefficient of range = 𝐿+𝑆 × 100

Features:

➢ Range is based on the two extreme values.

➢ If all the observations are same i.e. equal, then Range is zero.
➢ Quickest to compute.
➢ Has its application in statistical quality control.

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Problem No. 1: What is the range and its coefficient for the following:

Weights 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 69 70 – 74
No. of 12 18 23 10 3
students
Solution:

i) The lowest class boundary is 49.5 and highest-class boundary is 74.5.

Thus, Range = L – S = 74.5 – 49.5 = 25 kgs

𝐿−𝑆
ii) Coefficient of range = 𝐿+𝑆 × 100 = 20.16

Problem No. 2: If the relation between x and y is given by 2x + 3y = 10 and the

range of x is Rs. 15, what would be the range of y?

Solution:

Since 2x + 3y = 10
10 2
∴𝑦= − 𝑥
3 3
2
∴𝑎=
3

Now, 𝑅𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑅𝑋 = Rs. 10

❖ Quartile deviation:

It is also known as semi-inter quartile range.

𝑄3 −𝑄1
1. Semi-inter quartile range or quartile deviation: 𝑄𝑑 = 2
𝑄 −𝑄
2. Coefficient of quartile deviation = 𝑄3 +𝑄1 × 100
3 1

Features of Quartile deviation:

➢ Rigidly defined.
➢ No mathematical properties.
➢ Not based on all the observations.
➢ Best measure of dispersion for open end classification.
➢ Not affected due to sampling fluctuations.
➢ If all the observations are same i.e. equal, then Q.D. is zero.

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Problem No. 3: Find QD and its coefficient: 56, 48, 65, 35, 42, 75, 82, 60, 55, 50.

Solution:

Ascending order: 35, 42, 48, 50, 55, 56, 60, 65, 75, 82
𝑁+1
𝑄1 = 4
= 2.75th observation

= 2nd + 0.75(3rd - 2nd)

= 46.50

𝑁+1
Now, 𝑄3 = 3 ( 4
) = 8.25th observation

= 8th + 0.25 (9th – 8th)

= 67.50

𝑄3 −𝑄1
Thus, 𝑄𝑑 = 2
= 10.50

𝑄 −𝑄
Coefficient of QD = 𝑄3 +𝑄1 × 100 = 18.42
3 1

Problem No. 4: If the QD of x is 6 and 3x + 6y = 20, what is QD of y?

Solution:

Since, 3x + 6y = 20
20 3
∴𝑦= − 𝑥
6 6
3
∴𝑎=6

Now, 𝑄𝐷𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑄𝐷𝑋 = 3

❖ Mean deviation:
∑|𝑥−𝐴|
1. For discrete data without frequency: 𝑀𝐷𝐴 = 𝑛
∑ 𝑓|𝑥−𝐴|
2. For grouped data with frequency: 𝑀𝐷𝐴 = ∑𝑓
𝑀𝐷𝐴
3. Coefficient of mean deviation = 𝐴
× 100

Where, A = mean (𝑥), median (Me) or mode (Mo)

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Features of Mean deviation:

➢ Rigidly defined.
➢ Based on all the observations.
➢ No mathematical properties.
➢ Not affected by sampling fluctuations.
➢ Mean deviation takes its minimum value when the deviations are taken from
the median.
➢ If all the observations are same i.e. equal, then MD is zero.

Problem no. 5: What is the MD about mean, median and mode for the following: 5, 8,
10, 10, 12, 9.

Solution:

i) Mean =
∑𝑥
=9 x |𝑋 − 𝑥| |𝑋 – 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛| |𝑋 – 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒|
𝑛
∑|𝑥−𝑥| 5 4 5 5
Thus, 𝑀𝐷𝑥 = = 1.67
𝑛 8 1 3 3
10 1 0 0
ii) Median = 10 10 1 0 0
∑|𝑥−𝑀𝑒|
Thus, 𝑀𝐷𝑀𝑒 = 𝑛
= 1.83 12 3 2 2
9 0 1 1
iii) Mode = 10 Total 10 11 11
∑|𝑥−𝑀𝑜|
Thus, 𝑀𝐷𝑀𝑜 = 𝑛
= 1.83

❖ Standard deviation:

Standard deviation is always denoted by "𝜎" (sigma)

∑(𝑥−𝑥)2 ∑(𝑥)2
1. For discrete data without frequency: 𝜎 = √ 𝑛
or 𝜎 = √ 𝑛
− (𝑥)2
∑ 𝑓(𝑥−𝑥)2 ∑ 𝑓(𝑥)2
2. For grouped data with frequency: 𝜎 = √ ∑𝑓
or 𝜎 = √ ∑𝑓
− (𝑥)2

3. Variance = 𝜎 2
𝝈
4. Coefficient of variation: CV= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒙

Features of Standard Deviation:

➢ Most widely and commonly used.

➢ If all the observations are same i.e. equal, then SD is zero.

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Problem No. 6: Find the SD and coefficient of variation for: 5, 8, 9, 2, 6

x 𝑥2
5 25
8 64
9 81
2 4
6 36
30 210

∑(𝑥)2
i) 𝜎=√ − (𝑥)2 = 2.45
𝑛
𝜎
ii) CV= 𝑥 × 100 = 40.83

❖ Properties of Measures of Dispersion:

If for any two constants a and b, two variables x and y are related y = ax + b, then
the computation is as follows:

1. Range: 𝑅𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑅𝑋
2. Quartile deviation: 𝑄𝐷𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑄𝐷𝑋
3. Mean deviation: 𝑀𝐷𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑀𝐷𝑋
4. Standard deviation: 𝑆𝐷𝑌 = |𝑎| × 𝑆𝐷𝑋

❖ Common Feature for Range, QD, MD and SD:

All are unaffected by change of origin but are affected by change of scale.

Which means-

✓ If all observations are increased by k, then all remains same.

✓ If all observations are decreased by k, then all remains same.
✓ If all observations are multiplied by k, then all are multiplied by k.
✓ If all observations are divided by k, then all are divided by k.

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Multiple Choice Questions

❖ Problems Based on Theory:

1. Which measure of dispersion is based on the absolute deviations only? {}
a) Standard deviation
b) Mean deviation
c) Quartile deviation
d) Range

2. [May 07] Measures of dispersion are called averages of the ______ order. {}
a) 1st
b) 2nd
c) 3rd
d) None

3. [May 07] _____ are used for measuring central tendency, dispersion and skewness. {}
a) Median
b) Deciles
c) Quartiles
d) Percentiles

4. [Jan 21] The best statistical measure used for comparing two series is {}
a) Mean absolute deviation
b) Range
c) Coefficient of variation
d) Standard deviation

5. [Jan 21] Which of the following is relative measure of dispersion? {}

a) Range
b) Mean deviation
c) Standard deviation
d) Coefficient of QD

6. [May 19] Standard deviation is ______ times of √𝑀𝐷 × 𝑄𝐷 {}

a) 2/3
b) 4/5
c) √15/8
d) √8/15

❖ Problems Based on Formulae:

7. What is the coefficient of range for the following wages of 8 workers?

Rs. 80, Rs. 65, Rs. 90, Rs. 60, Rs. 75, Rs. 70, Rs. 72, Rs. 85. {}

a) Rs. 30
b) Rs. 20

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

c) 30
d) 20

8. What is the coefficient of range for the following distribution? {}

Class Interval: 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59

Frequency: 11 25 16 7 3

a) 22
b) 50
c) 72.46
d) 75.82

9. What is the value of mean deviation about mean for the following numbers? 5,8,6,3,4
{}
a) 5.20
b) 7.20
c) 1.44
d) 2.23

10. What is the value of mean deviation about mean for the following observations?

50, 60, 50, 50, 60, 60, 60, 50, 50, 50, 60, 60, 60, 50. {}

a) 5
b) 7
c) 35
d) 10

11. The coefficient of mean deviation about mean for the first 9 natural numbers is {}

a) 200/9
b) 80
c) 400/9
d) 50.

12. The mean deviation about mode for the numbers 4/11, 6/11, 8/11, 9/11, 12/11, 8/11 is
{}
a) 1/6
b) 1/11
c) 6/11
d) 5/11

13. What is the standard deviation of 5, 5, 9, 9, 9, 10, 5, 10, 10? {}

a) √14
√42
b) 3
c) 4.50
d) 8

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

14. What is the coefficient of variation of the following numbers? 53, 52, 61, 60, 64. {}
a) 8.09
b) 18.08
c) 20.23
d) 20.45

15. If the SD of x is 3, what us the variance of (5-2x) {}

a) 36
b) 6
c) 1
d) 9

16. The quartiles of a variable are 45, 52 and 65 respectively. Its quartile deviation is {}
a) 10
b) 20
c) 25
d) 8.30

17. If the SD of the 1st n natural numbers is 2, then the value of n must be {}
a) 2
b) 7
c) 6
d) 5

18. If x and y are related by y = 2x+ 5 and the SD and AM of x are known to be 5 and 10
respectively, then the coefficient of variation is {}
a) 25
b) 30
c) 40
d) 20

19. [May 19] If 𝜎 2 = 100 and coefficient of variation = 20% then 𝑥 = {}
a) 60
b) 70
c) 80
d) 50

20. [May 19] Coefficient of quartile deviation is ¼ then, 𝑄3 /𝑄1 is {}

a) 5/3
b) 4/3
c) 3/4
d) 3/5

21. [May 19] SD of first five consecutive natural nos. is {}

a) √10
b) √8
c) √3
d) √2

22. [May 19] The QD of 6 nos. 15, 8, 36, 40, 38, 41 is equal to {}
a) 12.5

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

b) 25
c) 13.5
d) 37

23. [Jan 21] Find the coefficient of mean deviation about mean for the data: 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13,
19 {}
a) 17.28
b) 28.57
c) 22.22
d) 32.10

24. [July 21] The mean deviation of the nos. 3, 10, 6, 11, 14, 17, 9, 8, 12 about the mean is
{}
a) 8.7
b) 4.2
c) 3.1
d) 9.8

25. [July 21] The SD of 1 to 9 natural nos. is {}

a) 6.65
b) 2.58
c) 6.75
d) 5.62

26. [July 21] If the nos. are 5, 1, 8, 7, 2 then the coefficient of variation is {}
a) 56.13%
b) 59.13%
c) 48.13%
d) 44.13%

27. [Dec 21] The marks secured by 5 students in a subject are 82, 73, 69, 84, 66. What is the
coefficient of range? {}
a) 0.12
b) 12
c) 120
d) 0.012

28. For 333, 999, 888, 777, 666, 555, 444

Rank of 1st quartile is {}

a) 3
b) 1
c) 2
d) 7

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

❖ Problems Based on Property:

29. If Rx and Ry denote ranges of x and y respectively where x and y are related by 3x+2y+10=0,
what would be the relation between x and y? {}
a) Rx = Ry
b) 2 Rx= 3 Ry
c) 3 Rx= 2 Ry
d) Rx= 2 Ry

30. If the range of x is 2, what would be the range of –3x +50? {}
a) 2
b) 6
c) -6
d) 44

31. If the relation between x and y is 5y–3x = 10 and the mean deviation about mean for x is 12,
then the mean deviation of y about mean is {}
a) 7.20
b) 6.80
c) 20
d) 18.80

32. If two variables x and y are related by 2x + 3y –7 =0 and the mean and mean deviation about
mean of x are 1 and 0.3 respectively, then the coefficient of mean deviation of y about its
mean is {}
a) - 5
b) 12
c) 50
d) 4.

33. If x and y are related by 2x+3y+4 = 0 and SD of x is 6, then SD of y is {}

a) 22
b) 4
c) √5
d) 9

34. If x and y are related as 3x+4y = 20 and the quartile deviation of x is 12, then the quartile
deviation of y is {}
a) 16
b) 14
c) 10
d) 9

35. [May 19] The sum of mean and SD of a series is a + b, if we add 2 to each observation of the
series then the sum of mean and SD is {}
a) a + b + 2
b) 6 + a + b
c) 4 + a – b
d) a + b + 4

36. [Jan 21] The relationship between P-series and Q- series is given by 2P – 3Q – 10 = 0. If the
range of P-series is 18. What would be the range of Q? {}

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

a) 10
b) 15
c) 9
d) 12

37. [Jan 21] It is given that the mean is 10 and standard deviation is 3.2. If the observations are
increased by 4, then the new mean and SD are: {}
a) Mean = 10, SD = 7.2
b) Mean = 10, SD = 3.2
c) Mean = 14, SD = 3.2
d) Mean = 14, SD = 7.2

38. [July 21] If the observation is increased by 7 then {}

a) SD increases by 7
b) MD increases by 7
c) Not affected at all
d) QD increases by 7

39. [July 21] If the relationship between x and y is given by 2x + 3y = 10 and the range of y is 10
then what is the range of x? {}
a) 10
b) 18
c) 8
d) 15

❖ Problems Based on Brain Twisters:

𝑥−𝑎
40. If the mean and SD of x area a and b respectively, then the SD of is {}
𝑏
a) -1
b) 1
c) ab
d) a/b

2
41. The mean and SD for a, b and 2 are 3 and respectively. The value of ab would be
√3
{}
a) 5
b) 6
c) 11
d) 3

42. [Dec 11] The SD of the weights of the students of a class of 50 students was calculated to be
4.5 kg. Later on, it was found that due to some fault in weighing machine, the weight of each
student was under measured by 0.5 kg. The correct SD of the weight will be: {}
a) Less than 4.5
b) Equal to 4.5
c) Greater than 4.5
d) Cannot be determined

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

43. [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

44. [July 21] The probable value of mean deviation when 𝑄3 = 40 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄1 = 15 is {}
a) 15
b) 18.75
c) 17.50
d) 0

45. [July 21] If a school has 14 teachers, their heights (in cm) are: 172, 173, 164, 178, 168, 169,
173, 172, 173, 164, 178, 168, 169, 173 then average deviation of this data is {}
a) 2.43
b) 3.93
c) 3.43
d) 2.92

46. [Dec 21] For a data having odd no. of values, the difference between the first and the
middle value is equal to the difference between the last and the middle value, similarly, the
difference between the second and middle values is equal to that of second last and middle
value so on. Therefore, the middle value is equal to {}
a) Half of the range
b) Half of SD
c) Mode
d) Mean

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 Unit 2.2 Measures Of Dispersion

Notes

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