Chapter Three (session –2)

Measures of Central Tendency

Topics will be covered:
Various measures of central tendency (Median & Mode)

Course Teacher: Fahmin Islam

Assistant Professor,
Department of Business Administration
Dhaka City Collage
1. Median: The median is that value of the variable which divides
the group into two equal parts, one part comprising all values
greater, and the other, all values less than median.

Computation of the median:

Ungrouped or Raw data: Arrange the given values in the

increasing or decreasing order. If the number of values is odd,
median is the middle value. If the number of values is even, median
is the mean of middle two values.

By formula
Median, Me = ( ) th observation

Or, Me = arithmetic mean of th and ( )th observations

Example: Find median for the following data 25, 18, 27, 10, 8, 30, 42,
20, 53.

Solution: Given that, the number of observations n = 9. Arranging the

given data in the increasing order, we get

8, 10, 18, 20, 25, 27, 30, 42, 53.

Therefore, median Me = ( ) th observation

=( ) th observation

= 5th observation
= 25.
Example: Find median for the following data 5, 8, 12, 30, 18, 10, 2,
22.

Solution: Given that, the number of observations n = 8. Arranging the

data in the increasing order, we get

2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 18, 22, 30

Therefore,
Median, Me = arithmetic mean of th and ( )th

observations

= arithmetic mean of th and ( )th

observations
= arithmetic mean of 4th and 5th observations

Grouped Data: In a grouped distribution, values are associated with

frequencies. Grouping can be in the form of a discrete frequency
distribution or a continuous frequency distribution. Whatever may be
the type of distribution, cumulative frequencies have to be calculated
to know the total number of items.

Discrete Series:
Step1: Find cumulative frequencies.

Step2: Find ( )
 Step3: See in the cumulative frequencies the value just greater

than ( )

Step4: Then the corresponding value of x is median.

Example: The following data pertaining to the number of members in

a family. Find median size of the family.
Number of
members, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
Frequency,
1 3 5 9 10 13 9 5 3 2
f

Solution: Table for calculation

Cumulative
Number of members,
Frequency, f frequency, cf
x
(less than)
1 1 1
2 3 4
3 5 9
4 9 18
5 10 28
6 13 41
7 9 50
8 5 55
9 3 58
10 2 60
Total N = 60
Location of the median = size of ( ) observation

= size of 30.5th observation

The cumulative frequency just greater than 30.5 is 41 and the value
of x corresponding to 41 is 6. Hence the median size is 6 members
per family.

Continuous Series: The steps given below are followed for the
calculation of median in continuous series.

Step1: Find cumulative frequencies.

Step2: Find ( )
Step3: See in the cumulative frequency the value first greater
than ( ), Then the corresponding class is called the Median
class. Then apply the formula

where, L = Lower limit of the median class

= cumulative frequency preceding the
median class
c = width of the median class
= frequency in the median class.
N= total frequency

Note: If the class intervals are given in inclusive type convert them
into exclusive type and call it as true/real class interval and consider
lower limit in this.
Example: Calculate median from the following frequency distribution.

Wages
10 – 20 20 – 30 30 – 40 40 – 50 50 – 60 60 – 70
(in Tk.)
Number of
8 10 12 7 4 3
workers

Solution: Table: Calculation of median

Wages Number of Cumulative
(in Tk.) workers (f) frequency
10 – 20 8 8
20 – 30 10 18
30 – 40 12 30
40 – 50 7 37
50 – 60 4 41
60 – 70 3 44
N = 44

We know,

Where, L = Lower limit of the median class

= cumulative frequency preceding the median class
c = width of the median class
= frequency in the median class.
N= total frequency

Location of the median = size of N/2 observation

= size of 44/2 observation
= size of 22nd observation
So, median lies in the class 30 – 40.
 Therefore,L = 30

= 22,

= 18, = 12
and c = 10

Graphic method for Location of median: Median can be located

with the help of the cumulative frequency curve or „ogive‟. The
procedure for locating median in a grouped data is as follows:

Step1: The class boundaries, where there are no gaps between

consecutive classes, are represented on the x-axis.
Step2: The cumulative frequency corresponding to different
classes is plotted on the y-axis against the upper limit of the
class interval.
Step3: The curve obtained on joining the points by means of
freehand drawing is called the „ ogive‟. The ogive so drawn may
be either a (i) less than ogive or a (ii) more than ogive.
Step4: The value of ( ) is marked on the y-axis, where N is the
total frequency.
 Step5: A horizontal straight line is drawn from the point ( ) on
the y-axis parallel to x-axis to meet the ogive.
Step6: A vertical straight line is drawn from the point of
intersection perpendicular to the horizontal axis.
Step7: The point of intersection of the perpendicular to the x-
axis gives the value of the median.

Remark: From the point of intersection of „ less than‟ and „more than‟
ogives, if a perpendicular is drawn on the x-axis, the point so obtained
on the horizontal axis gives the value of the median.

Example: Draw ogive curves for the following frequency distribution

and hence find median.
No. of No. of
Marks Marks
students students
0 – 10 5 50 – 60 25
10 - 20 4 60 – 70 10
20 – 30 8 70 – 80 8
30 – 40 12 80 – 90 5
40 – 50 16 90 – 100 2
Solution: Table for calculation
Cumulative frequency, cf
Marks No. of students
Less than More than
0 – 10 5 5 95
10 - 20 4 9 90
20 – 30 8 17 86
30 – 40 12 29 78
40 – 50 16 45 66
50 – 60 25 70 50
60 – 70 10 80 25
70 – 80 8 88 15
80 – 90 5 93 7
90 – 100 2 95 2
Total N = 95

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
O 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Figure: ogives
 From ogive curves, median = 51

Merits of Median:
1. Median is not influenced by extreme values because it is
a positional average.
2. Median can be calculated in case of distribution with
open end intervals.
3. Median can be located even if the data are incomplete.
4. Median can be located even for qualitative factors such
as ability, honesty etc.

Demerits of Median:
2. In case of even number of items or continuous series,
median is an estimated value other than any value in the
series.
3. It is not suitable for further mathematical treatment
except its use in average deviation.
4. It is not taken into account all the observations.

2. Mode: The mode refers to that value in a distribution, which occur

most frequently. It is an actual value, which has the highest
concentration of items in and around it.

According to Croxton and Cowden “The mode of a distribution is

the value at the point around which the items tend to be most
heavily concentrated. It may be regarded at the most typical of a
series of values”.
 Computation of the mode:

Ungrouped or Raw Data: For ungrouped data or a series of

individual observations, mode is often found by mere inspection.

Example: 2, 7, 10, 15, 10, 17, 8, 10, 2

Therefore, Mode = M0=10

In some cases the mode may be absent while in some cases

there may be more than one mode.

Example: (i) 12, 10, 15, 24, 30 (no mode)

(ii) 7, 10, 15, 12, 7, 14, 24, 10, 7, 20, 10
Therefore, the modes are 7 and 10.
Grouped Data: For discrete distribution see the highest frequency
and the corresponding value of x is mode.
Continuous distribution: See the highest frequency then the
corresponding value of class is called the modal class. Then
apply the formula

Where, L = Lower limit of the model class

= f1 – f0
= f1 – f2
f1 = frequency of the modal class
f0 = frequency of the class preceding the modal class
f2 = frequency of the class succeeding the modal class
c = width of the modal class
Example: Calculate mode for the following:
Marks No. of students
0 – 10 5
10 - 20 4
20 – 30 8
30 – 40 12
40 – 50 16
50 – 60 25
60 – 70 10
70 – 80 8
80 – 90 5
90 – 100 2

Solution: The highest frequency is 25 and corresponding class

is 50 – 60, which is the modal class.

Here L = 50,
= f1 – f0 = 25 – 16 = 9
= f1 – f2 = 25 – 10 = 15
c = 10

Therefore,

= 50 + 3.75
= 53.75
 Graphic Location of mode:
Step1: Draw a histogram of the given distribution.
Step2: Join the rectangle corner of the highest rectangle (modal
class rectangle) by a straight line to the top right corner of the
preceding rectangle. Similarly the top left corner of the highest
rectangle is joined to the top left corner of the rectangle on the
right.
Step3: From the point of intersection of these two diagonal lines,
draw a perpendicular to the x -axis.
Step4: Read the value in x-axis gives the mode.
Example: Locate the modal value graphically for the following
frequency distribution.
Class 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60
Frequency 5 8 12 7 5 3
Solution:

20

15

10

O 10 20 30 40 50 60
24.44 Class Limit 
Figure: Histogram

From histogram, mode = 24.44

Merits of Mode:
1. It is easy to calculate and in some cases it can be located
mere inspection.
2. Mode is not at all affected by extreme values.
3. It can be calculated for open-end classes.
4. It is usually an actual value of an important part of the series.
5. In some circumstances it is the best representative of data.

Demerits of mode:
1. It is not based on all observations.
2. It is not capable of further mathematical treatment.
3. Mode is ill-defined generally; it is not possible to find mode in
some cases.
4. As compared with mean, mode is affected to a great extent,
by sampling fluctuations.
5. It is unsuitable in cases where relative importance of items
has to be considered.

3.5 Relationship among mean, median and mode

For a moderately asymmetrical distribution, the relationship between

them are brought by Prof. Karl Pearson as

Mode = 3median - 2mean.

Problem: Calculate (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) mode from the following
frequency distribution.
Wages
10 – 20 20 – 30 30 – 40 40 – 50 50 – 60 60 – 70
(in Tk.)
Number of
8 10 12 7 4 3
workers

Solution: (i) Table: Calculation of mean:

Wages Number of Class mid-

fd
(in Tk.) workers (f) point (x)
10 – 20 8 15 –2 –16
20 – 30 10 25 –1 –10
30 – 40 12 35 = A 0 0
40 – 50 7 45 1 7
50 – 60 4 55 2 8
60 – 70 3 65 3 9
N = 44 ∑ = –2

Using short-cut method, arithmetic mean

∑
̅
(ii) Table: Calculation of median
Number Cumulative
Wages of frequency
(in Tk.) workers
(f)
10 – 20 8 8
20 – 30 10 18
30 – 40 12 30
40 – 50 7 37
50 – 60 4 41
60 – 70 3 44
N = 44

We know, Median, Me =
Where, L = Lower limit of the median class
= cumulative frequency preceding the median class
c = width of the median class
= frequency in the median class.
N= total frequency
Location of the median = size of N/2 observation
= size of 44/2 observation
= size of 22nd observation
So, median lies in the class 30 – 40.
Therefore, L = 30, = 22,
= 18, = 12 and c = 10
(iii) We know, Mode, Mo =
Where, L = Lower limit of the model class
= f1 – f0
= f1 – f2
f1 = frequency of the modal class
f0 = frequency of the class preceding the modal class
f2 = frequency of the class succeeding the modal class
c = width of the modal class
Modal class = the class containing maximum frequency 12
= 30 – 40

Therefore, L = 30, f1 = 12,

f0 = 10, f2 = 7 and c = 10

Wages Number of Cumulative

(in Tk.) workers (f) frequency
10 – 20 8 8
20 – 30 10 18
30 – 40 12 30
40 – 50 7 37
50 – 60 4 41
60 – 70 3 44
N = 44
Problem-3: Calculate (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) mode from the
following frequency distribution.
Wages
10 – 20 20 – 30 30 – 40 40 – 50 50 – 60 60 – 70
(in Tk.)
Number of
8 10 12 12 5 3
workers

Solution: (i) Table: Calculation of mean

Class
Wage Number of
mid-point fd
(in Tk.) workers (f)
(x)
10 – 20 8 15 –2 –16
20 – 30 10 25 –1 –10
30 – 40 12 35 = A 0 0
40 – 50 12 45 1 12
50 – 60 5 55 2 10
60 – 70 3 65 3 9
N = 50 ∑ =5

Using short-cut method, arithmetic mean,

∑
̅
(ii) Table: Calculation of median
Wages Number of Cumulative frequency
(in Tk.) workers (f)
10 – 20 8 8
20 – 30 10 18
30 – 40 12 30
40 – 50 12 42
50 – 60 5 47
60 – 70 3 50
N = 50
We know, Median

Where, L = Lower limit of the median class

= cumulative frequency preceding the median class
c = width of the median class
= frequency in the median class.
N= total frequency

Location of the median = size of N/2 observation

= size of 50/2 observation
= size of 25th observation

So, median lies in the class 30 – 40.

Therefore,L = 30, = 25,

= 18, = 12
and c = 10
(iii) We know, Mode, Mo = 3Median – 2Mean
= 3 x 35.83 – 2 x 36
= 35.49

Problem-4: Find out the mode for the following data:

Wages(in Taka) Number of workers

More than Tk. 10 but less 8
than Tk. 20
Less than Tk. 30 18
Less than Tk. 40 30
Less than Tk. 50 42
Less than Tk. 60 47
Less than Tk. 70 50
Solution: Table: Calculation of mean and median

Number Class
Cumulative Real of mid-
fd
frequency class workers point
(f) (x)
8 10 – 20 8 15 –2 –16
18 20 – 30 10 25 –1 –10
30 30 – 40 12 35 = A 0 0
42 40 – 50 12 45 1 12
47 50 – 60 5 55 2 10
50 60 – 70 3 65 3 9
N = 50 ∑ =5

Using short-cut method, arithmetic mean

∑
̅

We know, Median, Me =
Where, L = Lower limit of the median class
= cumulative frequency preceding the median
class
c = width of the median class
= frequency in the median class.
N= total frequency
Location of the median = size of N/2 observation
= size of 50/2 observation
= size of 25th observation

So, median lies in the class 30 – 40.

Therefore,L = 30 = 25,
= 18, = 12 and c = 10

We know, Mode, Mo = 3Median – 2Mean

= 3 x 35.83 – 2 x 36
= 35.49 taka

Home work: From Gupta’s Book ,page No. 119, problem 12,22,28,32.

Thank you