FREQUENCY

DISTRIBUTION

BIOSTISTISTICS
PRESENTATION TITLE

Frequency Distribution
A frequency distribution shows the frequency of repeated
items in a graphical form or tabular form. It gives a visual
display of the frequency of items or shows the number of
times they occurred.
Frequency distribution is used to organize the collected data in
table form. The data could be marks scored by students,
temperatures of different towns, points scored in a volleyball
match, etc. After data collection, we have to show data in a
meaningful manner for better understanding. Organize the
data in such a way that all its features are summarized in a
table. This is known as frequency distribution.
2
 The following are the scores of 10 students in the G.K. quiz released by Mr.
PRESENTATION TITLE

Ahmed 15, 17, 20, 15, 20, 17, 17, 14, 14, 20. Let's represent this data in
frequency distribution and find out the number of students who got the same
marks.
Quiz Marks No. of Students
15 2
17 3
20 3
14 2

We can see that all the collected data is organized under the column quiz marks and
the number of students. This makes it easier to understand the given information and
we can see that the number of students who obtained the same marks. Thus,
3
frequency distribution in statistics helps us to organize the data in an easy way to
understand its features at a glance.
PRESENTATION TITLE Frequency Distribution Table
A frequency distribution table displays the frequency of each data set in an
organized way. It helps us to find patterns in the data and also enables us to
analyze the data using measures of central tendency and variance. The first
step that a mathematician does with the collected data is to organize it in the
form of a frequency distribution table. All the calculations and statistical tests
and analyses come later.
A frequency distribution table is a way to organize data so that it makes the
data more meaningful. A frequency distribution table is a chart that
summarizes all the data under two columns - variables/categories, and their
frequency. It has two or three columns. Usually, the first column lists all the
outcomes as individual values or in the form of class intervals, depending upon
the size of the data set. The second column includes the tally marks of each
outcome. The third column lists the frequency of each outcome. Also, the
second column is optional.
4
PRESENTATION TITLE

Frequency indicates how often something occurs. For example, your

heartbeat is 72 heartbeats/min under normal conditions. Frequency
corresponds to the number of times a value occurs.
In our day-to-day lives, we come across a lot of information in the form of
numerical figures, tables, graphs, etc. This information could be marks scored
by students, temperatures of different cities, points scored in matches, etc.
The information that is collected is called data. Once the data is collected, we
have to represent it in a meaningful manner so that it can be easily
understood. The frequency distribution table is one of the ways to organize
data.

5
PRESENTATION TITLE

All the data that was collected has been organized under three columns. Thus,
a frequency distribution table is a chart summarizing the values and their
frequencies. In other words, it is a tool to organize data. This makes it easy for
us to understand the given set of information.
Thus, the frequency distribution table in statistics helps us to condense data in
a simpler form so that it is easy for us to observe its features at a glance.

6
 Types of Frequency Distribution
PRESENTATION TITLE

There are four types of frequency distribution under statistics which are
explained below:
•Ungrouped frequency distribution: It shows the frequency of an item in each
separate data value rather than groups of data values.
•Grouped frequency distribution: In this type, the data is arranged and
separated into groups called class intervals. The frequency of data belonging to
each class interval is noted in a frequency distribution table. The grouped
frequency table shows the distribution of frequencies in class intervals.
•Relative frequency distribution: It tells the proportion of the total number of
observations associated with each category.
•Cumulative frequency distribution: It is the sum of the first frequency and all
frequencies below it in a frequency distribution. You have to add a value with
the next value then add the sum with the next value again and so on till the
7
last. The last cumulative frequency will be the total sum of all frequencies.
PRESENTATION TITLE

Frequency Distribution Table

A frequency distribution table is a chart that shows the frequency of
each of the items in a data set. Let's consider an example to understand
how to make a frequency distribution table using tally marks. A jar
containing beads of different colors- red, green, blue, black, red, green,
blue, yellow, red, red, green, green, green, yellow, red, green, yellow. To
know the exact number of beads of each particular color, we need to
classify the beads into categories. An easy way to find the number of
beads of each color is to use tally marks. Pick the beads one by one and
enter the tally marks in the respective row and column. Then, indicate
the frequency for each item in the table.

8
9
PRESENTATION TITLE
PRESENTATION TITLE
Example: Ali is fond of playing games with dice. He throws the dice and notes the
observations each time. These are his observations: 4, 6, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 6, 5, 4, 2, 3.
To know the exact number of times he got each digit (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) as the
outcome, she classifies them into categories. An easy way is to draw a frequency
distribution table with tally marks.

Outcomes Tally Marks Frequency

1 I 1

2 III 3

3 I 1

4 II 2

5 II 2
10
6 III 3
PRESENTATION TITLE Types of Frequency Distribution Table
There are two types of frequency distribution tables:
Ungrouped and grouped frequency distribution tables.

Ungrouped Frequency Distribution Table: In the ungrouped

frequency distribution table, we don't make class intervals, we
write the accurate frequency of individual data. Considering the
above example, the ungrouped table will be like this. Given
below table shows two columns: one is of marks obtained in the
test and the second is of frequency (no. of students).

11
PRESENTATION TITLE
Marks obtained in Test No. of Students

5 3
10 4
15 5
18 4
20 4
Total 20

It is the representation of ungrouped data and is typically used when you have a smaller data
set. Imagine how difficult it would be to create a similar table if you have a large number of
observations, for example, the marks of students of ten classes. . The table we will get will be
quite lengthy and the data will be confusing.
Hence, in such cases, we form class intervals to tally the frequency for the data that belongs to
that specific class interval. To make such a frequency distribution table, first, write the class
12
intervals in one column. Next, tally the numbers in each category based on the number of times
it appears. Finally, write the frequency in the final column
PRESENTATION TITLE

Grouped Frequency Distribution Table: To arrange a large number

of observations or data, we use grouped frequency distribution
table. In this, we form class intervals to tally the frequency for the
data that belongs to that particular class interval.
For example, Marks obtained by 20 students in the test are as
follows. 5, 10, 20, 15, 5, 20, 20, 15, 15, 15, 10, 10, 10, 20, 15, 5, 18,
18, 18, 18. To arrange the data in grouped table we have to make
class intervals. Thus, we will make class intervals of marks like 0 –
5, 6 – 10, and so on. Given below table shows two columns one is
of class intervals (marks obtained in test) and the second is of
frequency (no. of students). In this, we have not used tally marks
as we counted the marks directly.

13
PRESENTATION TITLE
Number of
Marks obtained
students
in the test
(Frequency)
0-5 3
5 - 10 11
10 - 15 12
15 - 20 19
20 - 25 7
25 - 30 8
Total 60

A frequency distribution table drawn above is called

a grouped frequency distribution table.

14
15
PRESENTATION TITLE
PRESENTATION TITLE
To Construct a Frequency Distribution Table

Step 1: Make a table with two columns - one with the title of the data you are
organizing and the other column will be for frequency. [Draw three columns if
you want to add tally marks too]
Step 2: Look at the items written in the data and decide whether you want to
draw an ungrouped frequency distribution table or a grouped frequency
distribution table. If there are too many different values, then it is usually better
to go with the grouped frequency distribution table.
Step 3: Write the data set values in the first column.
Step 4: Count how many times each item is repeating itself in the collected data.
In other words, find the frequency of each item by counting.
Step 5: Write the frequency in the second column corresponding to each item.
Step 6: At last you can also write the total frequency in the last row of the table.
16