Chapter 4:

Measures of
Central Tendency
 The Arithmetic Mean

The most commonly used measure of central tendency is

the arithmetic mean. It is called the mean or the
computed average. It is defined to be the sum of the
values of a group of items divided by the number of
such items. The mean of a sample of scores on a variable
x is symbolized by x(x-bar) and the mean of a
population is called the µ (mu). Most of the time,
researchers are forced to estimate from , since they
cannot measure every item in the population.
 Characteristics of the Mean

The mean is a more reliable or a more stable

measurement to use when sample data are being used to
make inferences about populations. It is the point which
balances all the values on either side. The mean is
sensitive or is greatly affected by the values, high or
low.
 Uses of the Mean

The mean is the most commonly used, easily

understood, easily calculated, and generally recognized
average. It is the best measure to use when the
distribution is symmetrical and it is a useful measure for
inferential statistics. It is also used to obtain an average
value of a series of values after each item is weighted. It
is referred to a weighted average.
Computation of the Mean
for Ungrouped Data
Computation of the Mean for Ungrouped Data

In simpler form, the formula may be presented as,

x = Σx
n
Where x = sample mean
x = value of each item
n = number of items in the sample
Σ = “the sum of”
Computation of the Mean for Ungrouped Data

and for the population mean, it is,

µ = ΣX
N
Where µ = arithmetic mean of a population
N = number of X items in the population
Computation of the Mean for Ungrouped Data

Illustrative Example 1:
Let us consider the scores of Ritz Glenn in his statistics
class. (The scores have been arrayed in a descending
order);
76
76
62
51
45
27
12
6
2
357 Total of all scores
Computation of the Mean for Ungrouped Data

Illustrative Example 1:
Since in the case of Ritz Glenn’s scores Σx = 357, Ritz
Glenn’s mean score is

x = Σx = 357 = 39.67
n 9
Weighted Arithmetic Mean
Weighted Arithmetic Mean

In simplified form, the formula is

x = Σfx
Σf
Weighted Arithmetic Mean

Illustrative Example 1:
The final grades of Luis Adrian at the end of the
semester are the following:
Subjects Grades (x) Units (f)
Bus. Math 10A 1.75 3
Nat. Sci. 101 1.50 3
English 101 2.00 3
Accounting 1 and 2 2.25 6
Economics 101 2.50 3
Finance 101 1.50 3
Weighted Arithmetic Mean

Illustrative Example 1:
Then the mean grade of Luis Adrian is

x = 3(1.75) + 3(1.50) + 3(2.00) + 6(2.25) + 3(2.50) + 3(1.50)

21

x = 1.96
 Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

Data which are arranged in a frequency distribution are

called grouped data. Observations belonging to each
class interval are represented by the classmark of the
interval. There are two methods we can use to compute
the mean from grouped data. The long method and the
coded method.
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

A. Long Method
In simplified form, the formulas are:
x = Σfx , µ = ΣfX
n N

where f = number of observations in a class

Xi or X = midpoint or classmark of a class
N = total frequency in the population distribution
n = total frequency in the sample distribution
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

An Illustration for Computing the Mean Height of 50

Men Using the Long Method
Height Frequency Class Mark f1Xi
(inches) (fi) (Xi)
61-63 2 62 124
64-66 5 65 325
67-69 12 68 816
70-72 15 71 1065
73-75 8 74 592
76-78 5 77 385
79-81 3 80 240
TOTAL Σfi = 50 ΣfiXi = 3547
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

An Illustration for Computing the Mean Height of 50

Men Using the Long Method

x = ΣfXi = 3547 = 70.94

n 50

Thus, the mean height of 50 men would be 70.94 inches.

Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

B. Coded Formula
This formula requires coding and is called the coded
formula for the mean.
1. Take the class mark of the class intervals as an
assumed mean.
Denote this by x0.
This x0 is set to a zero (origin).
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

B. Coded Formula
2. The class marks of the classes following the class
containing the origin are coded +1, +2,… or the class
marks prior to the class containing the origin are coded
-1, -2,… or the class marks may be expressed by the
codes.
Ui = xi – x0
C
where C is the size of the class interval.
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

B. Coded Formula
3. Multiply the coded values (Ui) by the
corresponding frequencies (fi) and find the sum.
4. Divide the sum (ΣfU) by the total number of
frequencies (n) and multiply the result by the size of
the class interval (C).
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data

An Illustration for Computing the Mean Height of 50

Men Using the Coded Method
Height Frequency Class Mark f1Xi
(inches) (fi) (Xi)
Ui F=Ui

61-63 2 62 -3 -6
64-66 5 65 -2 -10
67-69 12 68 -1 -12
70-72 15 71 0 0
73-75 8 74 1 8
76-78 5 77 2 10
79-81 3 80 3 9
C=3 Σfi = 50 ΣfiUi = -1
Computing the Mean for Grouped Data
 The Median

The median (symbol Md) of a set of data is a measure

of central tendency that occupies the middle position in
an array of values. It is the number that divides the
bottom 50% of the data from the top 50%, that is, half
the data items fall below the median and half are above
that value. If n is even, the median is the average of the
two middle data values in its ordered list.
 Characteristics of the Median

The median is another widely used average, easy to

understand, and easy to compute. It cannot be found
unless the items are arranged in a ascending or
descending order. It is the point that divides the
frequency distribution into two halves. The median is
not affected by the extremely high or low values, so it is
the better choice when a distribution is badly skewed. It
may be determined in open-ended distribution.
 Uses of the Median

The median is used whenever an average of position is

desired. It is used when open-ended intervals are
involved. Since the median divides a distribution in half,
it is also frequently used as an average in testing general
abilities, like in intelligence test.
 Computation of the Median
for Ungrouped Data

The median is computed as follows:

1.Arrange the items in an array.
2.Identify the middle value.
Computation of the Median for Ungrouped Data

Illustrative Example 1:
The amount of money a balut vendor earned on five
randomly selected days are:
P 86, 109 , 141, 74, 123
Making an array, we have
P 74, 86, 109, 123, 141
Since there are 5 (odd) items,
Median = Md = P109
Computation of the Median for Ungrouped Data

Illustrative Example 2:
Let us consider the average grades of 10 students:
83, 74, 63, 77, 81, 100, 60, 73, 86, 91.
Arranging them, we have
60, 63, 73, 74, 77, 81, 83, 86, 91, 100.
Here, there are 10 (even) items.
Median = Md = (77 + 81) / 2 = 79
Computation of the Median for Ungrouped Data

Illustrative Example 3:
In an example of Michael’s grades in statistics, the
middle value in the array and thus the median grade is
45.

76, 76, 62, 51, 45, 27, 12, 6, 2

 Computation of the Median
for Grouped Data

The median of a grouped frequency distribution is

essentially the x-coordinate of the point of intersection
of the “less than” and “greater than” ogives of the
distribution.
Computation of the Median for Grouped Data
Computation of the Median for Grouped Data

In the computation of the median, the number of the

desired item is first determined by N/2 (n = number of
items). Referring to “less than” cumulative frequency
distribution by cumulative addition, the amount is
continued until the group containing the middle value is
located. The class interval where median is located is
called the median class. The median class is the class
interval where N/2 is found.
Computation of the Median for Grouped Data

An Illustration for Computing the Median from a

Grouped Frequency Distribution

Height f “Less than” cumulative

(inches) frequencies (f<)
61-63 2 2
64-66 5 7
67-69 12 19 Cfp
70-72 median 15 fmd 34
class
73-75 8 42
76-78 5 47
79-81 3 50
 The Mode

The mode (symbol Mo), by definition, is the most

commonly occurring value in a series. A series may
have more than one mode or none at all.
Thus in the example of Michael’s grades, the mode is 76
an average that appeals to Michael but not to his
professor.
 Computation of the Mode
for Ungrouped Data

For ungrouped data, the most frequent occurring score is

the mode.
Illustrative examples:
a.3, 4, 7, 7, 7, 8, 11, 11, 14, 18, 19
Mo = 7
b.6, 6, 6, 9, 9, 9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 15, 15,
15, 15, 21, 21, 35, 35
Mo = 12, 15
Computation of the Mode
for Grouped Data
Computation of the Mode for Grouped Data

Height Frequency
(inches)

61-63 2
64-66 5
67-69 12
70-72 15
73-75 8
76-78 5
79-81 3
n = 50
 The Quantiles

The quantiles are a natural extension of the idea of

median in that they are values which divide a set of data
into equal parts.
While the median divides the distribution into two parts,
the quantiles divide it into four, or ten, or one hundred
equal parts.
The Quantiles

The quantiles that divide it into four equal parts are

called quartiles. These values are denoted by Q1, Q2,
and Q3. Twenty-five percent fall below the first quartile
(Q1), 50% are below the second quartile (Q2), and 75%
are less than the third quartile (Q3).
The Quantiles

Those which divide the distribution into ten parts are

called deciles. The data set has 9 deciles which are
denoted by D1, D2, … , D9, where D is the number that
divides the bottom 10 of the data from the top 90 and so
on. Those which divide the distribution into 100 equal
parts are called percentiles. A set of data has 99
percentiles which are denoted by P1, P2, … , P99.