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 Histograms Revision GCSE Level 6-7 Level 8-9 AQA Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel Edexcel iGCSE OCR WJEC

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Histograms Revision

Histograms
SUPERCHARGE
YOUR When displaying grouped data, especially continuous data, a histogram is
LEARNING often the best way to do it – specifically in cases where not all the
groups/classes are the same width. Histograms are like bar charts with 2 key
Learn More differences:

There are no gaps between the bars

It’s the area (as opposed to the height) of each bar that tells you the
frequency of that class.

Make sure you are happy with the following topics before continuing.

Grouped Frequency Tables

Frequency Density
In order to make this work, when drawing a histogram, we plot frequency
density on the y -axis rather than frequency. The frequency density for each
group is found using the formula:

frequency
frequency density =
class width

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Example 1: Drawing a Histogram

Below is a grouped frequency table of the lengths of 71 pieces of string.

Construct a histogram of the data.

[4 marks]

To construct a histogram, we will need the

frequency density for each class. Dividing
the frequency of the first class by its width,
we get

8
frequency density = = 0.4
20 − 0

Once we have calculated the frequency

density with the remaining groups, then it is
good to add a third column to the table
containing the frequency density values,
see the completed table.

Once this new column is completed, all that

remains is to plot the histogram.

With lengths on the x-axis and frequency

density on the y -axis, each bar that we draw
will have width equal to its class width, and
height equal to the relevant frequency
density.

The resulting histogram is shown.

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Example 2: Interpreting Histograms

Below is a histogram showing the times taken to complete a quiz.

44 people took between 0 and 1.5 minutes.

Work out how many people took between 3 and 4 minutes.

[4 marks]

To answer this question, we’re going to use

the information to work out how much 1
small square of area is worth.

Between 0 and 1.5 minutes includes all of

the first bar and some of the second. From 0
to 1 minutes there are 10 × 12 = 120
small squares, and from 1 to 1.5 there are
5 × 20 = 100 small squares (marked on
the graph below for clarity).

So, in total there are 100 + 120

= 220
small squares between 0 and 1.5 minutes,
and the question tells us that this accounts
for 44 people. Therefore, 1 person is equal
to

220 ÷ 44 = 5 small squares.

Now, reading from the graph we get that

there are 11 × 10= 110 small squares
between 3 and 4 minutes, so given that 5
small squares is one person, there must be

110 ÷ 5 = 22 people

who took between 3 and 4 minutes to do

the quiz.

Level 8-9 AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Histograms Example Questions

Question 1: Below is a grouped frequency table showing the heights of plants

growing in a garden.

Construct a histogram of this data.

[4 marks]

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Show Answer

Question 2: Below is a histogram showing how long people can hold their
breath.

There were 54 people who could hold it for at least 1 minute.

Work out how many could hold their breath for between 20 and 40 seconds.

[4 marks]

Level 6-7 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Show Answer

Question 3: Some cyclists from a local cycling club go out for their usual
Sunday ride. There are many different lengths of routes to suit cyclists of all
abilities.

The histogram below shows this information:

a) Estimate the number of cyclists who rode for 30 kilometres or less.

[4 marks]

b) Find an estimate for the mean journey length to the nearest kilometre.

[4 marks]

Level 8-9 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Show Answer

Question 4: The table shows information about the length of fish caught by
some fisherman at a local lake:

a) Use the information on the table to complete the histogram:

[3 marks]

b) Use the histogram to complete the table above.

[2 marks]

Level 8-9 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

a) In order to complete the rest of the histogram, we need to work out the
frequency densities for the length categories which have not already been
drawn on the histogram.

The frequency density for the 0–4 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

Frequency density = 32 ÷ 4 = 8

The frequency density for the 10–20 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

Frequency density = 22 ÷ 10 = 2.2

The frequency density for the 20–40 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

Frequency density = 42 ÷ 20 = 2.1

The frequency density for the 40–45 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

Frequency density = 30 ÷ 5 = 6

The frequency density for the 55–70 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

Frequency density = 9 ÷ 15 = 0.6

Now that we have worked out the frequency density for each length category,
we can now plot them on the histogram, with a result similar to the below:

b) For this part of the question, we need to fill in the gaps in the frequency
column of the table. In order to do this, we will need to take a frequency
density reading from the histogram for the 2 length categories in question.

Reading from the histogram, we see that the frequency density for the 4–10 cm
category is 3.5, and the frequency density for the 45 − 55 cm category is 4.6.
All we need to do is rearrange the frequency density formula so that we can
work out the frequency.

Since

frequency
Frequency density =
bandwidth

then

Frequency = frequency density × bandwidth

Therefore, the frequency for the 4–10 cm length category can be calculated as
follows:

3.5 × 6 = 21

The frequency for the 45–55 cm length category can be calculated as follows:

4.6 × 10 = 46

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Question 5: A baker for a large supermarket has received a total of 185 bags
of flour from different suppliers. As a result, the bags he has received are of
varying weights.

The histogram shows information about the weight of the bags of flour:

Frequency
Density

30 40 50 607080 90 100

Weight(pounds)

15 bags of flour weigh between 35 and 40 pounds.

a) How many bags of flour weigh more than 80 pounds?

[2 marks]

b) Explain why your answer or part a) is only an estimate.

[1 mark]

c) What is the median weight of a bag of flour?

[3 marks]

Level 8-9 GCSE AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC Cambridge iGCSE Edexcel iGCSE

Show Answer

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