Measures of Dispersion

Module 4
Prepared by: Dr. Parth Shah
Introduction
• Two sections of 10 students each in class X in a certain school were
given a common test in Mathematics (40 maximum marks). The
scores of the students are given below:
• Section A : 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23, 28, 29, 35
• Section B: 15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25
• The average score in section A is 19. The average score in section B is
19. Let us construct a dot diagram, on the same scale for section A
and section B (see Fig.)
• The position of mean is marked by an arrow in the dot diagram.

Clearly, the extent of spread or dispersion of the data is different in

section A from that of B. The measurement of the scatter of the given
data about the average is said to be a measure of dispersion or scatter.
• The following data provide the runs scored by two batsmen in the last
10 matches.
• Batsman A: 25, 20, 45, 93, 8, 14, 32, 87, 72, 4
• Batsman B: 33, 50, 47, 38, 45, 40, 36, 48, 37, 26

• The mean of both data’s are same (40), but they differ significantly.
• From the above diagrams, we see that runs of batsman B are grouped
around the mean. But the runs of batsman A are scattered from 0 to
100, though they both have same mean.
• Thus, some additional statistical information may be required to
determine how the values are spread in data. For this, we shall
discuss Measures of Dispersion.
What are Measures of
Dispersion?
• The measure of dispersion indicates the scattering of data. It explains
the disparity of data from one another, delivering a precise view of
the distribution of data.
• The measure of dispersion displays and gives us an idea about the
variation and central value of an individual item.
• In other words, Dispersion is the extent to which values in a
distribution differ from the average of the distribution.
• It gives us an idea about the extent to which individual items vary
from one another and from the central value.
• Dispersion is the measure of the variation of the item.
Types of Measures of Dispersion

• Absolute Measures of Dispersion are:

a) Range
b) Quartile Deviation
c) Mean Deviation
d) Standard Deviation
• Relative Measures of Dispersion are
a) Coefficient of Range
b) Coefficient of Quartile Deviation
c) Coefficient of Mean Deviation
d) Coefficient of Variation.
Absolute Measures of
Dispersion:
• Range – It is the simplest method of measurement of dispersion and
defines the difference between the largest and the smallest item in a
given distribution.
• R = H – L or L – S
H or L = Highest or Largest value of series
L or S = Lowest or Smallest value of series.
• The relative measure corresponding to Range is defined as:
• Coefficient of range = .
1. The yields (kg per plot) of a cotton variety from five plots are 9, 5, 8,
10 and 11. Find the range. (Answer: 6)
2. Calculate range from the following distribution.
Size 70-73 73-76 76-79 79-82 82-85
Number 5 18 42 27 8

Range = L – S = 85 – 70 = 15.
Coefficient of Range = =
• The range of a set of data is 13.67 and the largest value is 70.08. Find
the smallest value. (Ans: the smallest value is 56.41)
• The prices of Silver for the entire week are given below: calculate the
range and its coefficient.
Day Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat

Price 4500 5570 6000 5680 6400 6789

Range =2289 and Coefficient of Range = 0.2027.

1. The ages of 10 girls are given below:
3 5 7 8 9 10 12 14 17 18
What is the range and Coefficient of Range?
2. The weight of 10 students (in Kg) of class X are given below :
45 49 55 43 52 40 62 47 61 58
What is the range and Coefficient of Range?
What Are the Merits and
Demerits of Range?
Merits
• It is very easy to calculate and simple to understand.
• No special knowledge is needed while calculating range.
• It is widely used in statistical quality control.
• It takes the least time for computation.
• It provides a broad picture of the data at a glance.

• Demerits
• It is a crude measure because it is only based on two extreme values (highest and lowest).
• It cannot be calculated in the case of open-ended series.
• Range is significantly affected by fluctuations of sampling i.e. it varies widely from sample to sample.
• It is not based on all items.
(i) Inter Quartile Range
Difference between third quartile (Q3) and first quartile of a series, is
called Inter quartile range. IQR = Q3 – Q1
(ii) Quartile Deviation:
• It is known as Semi-Inter-Quartile Range, i.e. half of the difference
between the upper quartile and lower quartile. The first quartile is
derived as (Q1), the middle digit (Q2) connects the least number with the
median of the data. The median of a data set is the (Q2) second quartile.
Lastly, the number connecting the largest number and the median is the
third quartile (Q3). Quartile deviation can be calculated by
•
• Coefficient of QD =
First find out Q1 and Q3 from the following equations.

Find the Quartile Deviation and the coefficient of Quartile Deviation

from the deviation from the following:
Roll No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Marks 50 55 40 31 60 37 56
Since we wish to exclude the values and concentrate on the middle values, we need
to arrange the data in ascending (or descending order). Here Arranging the data in
ascending order:
• 31, 37, 40, 50, 55, 56, 60
• N=7,
Now

= size of 2nd term =37

Similarly,

=size of 6 th item
=56
Hence, Quartile deviation = = == 9.5.

Coefficient of QD = = = =0.2043.
Find Q.D And coefficient of Q.D
X 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
F 1 3 5 7 10 3 1 1

X F Cf(cumulative
frequency)
30 1 1

40 3 1+3=4

50 5 4+5=9

60 7 9+7=16

70 10 16+10=26

80 3 26+3=29

90 1 29+1=30

100 1 30+1=31 N
• Here N= 31

•
• = 8.
• In table approximate cf to 8 is 9 so cf=9 is to be selected ,thus 50 is the size
/value of the item.

• Similarly,
• =24,
• In table approximate cf to 24 is 26 so cf=26 is to be selected ,thus 70 is the size
/value of the item.

• Hence, Quartile deviation = = == 10.

• Coefficient of QD = = = =0.166.
Question: Find Q.D And coefficient of Q.D

Roll No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Marks 20 25 40 12 31 15 60
Ans: QD: 12.5, CQD: 0.45

Question: Find Q.D And coefficient of Q.D

X 10 20 30 40 50 60
F 4 7 15 8 7 2
Ans: QD: 10, CQD: 0.33
Continuous Frequency
Distribution:
• We know how to evaluate Quartile deviations for continuous
frequency distribution.
• Recall the formula:

• QD =
• Coefficient of QD =
Find the Quartile Deviation and the coefficient of Quartile Deviation
from the deviation from the following:
Marks 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60

No of 10 20 30 50 40 30
students

Q1 = 25, Q3 = 46.25, QD=10.625, Coefficient of QD=0.2982

Mean Deviation:
• Mean deviation is the arithmetic average of deviation of all the values taken
from a statistical average of series. i.e. it may calculate around any average:
mean, median, mode etc. In taking deviation of values, algebraic signs + and –
are not taken into consideration, that is negative deviations are also treated as
positive deviations.
• Mean deviation about average/mean can be evaluated by using the formula:
• For Raw Data:
MD ( = .
• For continuous and discrete frequency distribution:
MD ( =
• Coefficient of mean deviation is.
• Calculate the mean deviation from mean of the following data which
represents the heights(in cms) of 7
soldiers:168,164,172,169,178,173,173.
X x-
• Solution: here no of observations: n= 7
168 3
• The mean is A.M. 164 7
172 1
•= 169 2
178 7
• The mean deviation from the mean is 173 2
173 2
MD ( = =. Sum=1197 24
• Find the mean deviation from the mean of the following data :
Size of items xi 5 6 7 8 9 10
Frequency fi 9 13 18 8 3 1

• Ans: 0.9692
x f f.x x- f.

5 9 45 6.7 -1.7 1.7 15.3

6 13 78 -0.7 0.7 9.1
7 18 126 0.3 o.3 5.4
8 8 64 1.3 1.3 10.4
9 3 27 2.3 2.3 6.9
10 1 10 3.3 3.3 3.3
Total 52 350 50.4

From table n=52 hence

Mean is = 6.7
MD ( = == 0.9692.
• Calculate the mean deviation and coefficient of Mean Deviation from
mean of the following distribution:
Marks 0 - 10 10 - 20 20 - 30 30 - 40 40 - 50
No. of Students 5 8 15 16 6

• Ans: MD = 9.44, CMD = 0.35

Standard Deviation and
Variance:
• Standard deviation is the Square Root of the Arithmetic Average of
the squared of the deviations measured from the mean.
• Variance: If a variate x takes values with respective frequencies,then
the variance of x is defined as
• V(x) =(For Frequency based data)
• V(x)= = (For Raw Data)
• The standard deviation is given as:
• (For Frequency based data)
• = (For raw data)
• Example: Calculate the variance and the standard deviation for the following.

X -2 -1 0 1 2
F 2 5 6 5 2

Ans: Var(X) = 1.3,

X f f.x
-2 2 4 -4 8
-1 5 1 -5 5
0 6 0 0 0
1 5 1 5 5
2 2 4 4 8
Total 20 0 26

Here n= 20

V(x) = -
V(x)=
.
Calculate the variance and the standard deviation for the following.
X -2 -1 0 1 2
F 2 5 6 4 3

Calculate the variance and the standard deviation for the following.
X 2 3 4 5
F 1 12 25 2

Ans: Var(x) = 0.36, SD(x) = 0.6

Standard Deviation and Variance for grouped frequency distribution.

c.i 0-2 2-4 4-6 6-8 8-10

F 10 20 30 10 10

C.I. F Class f.x

marks x
0-2 10 1 1 10 10
2-4 20 3 9 60 180
4-6 30 5 25 150 750
6-8 10 7 49 70 490
8-10 10 9 81 90 810
Total 80 380 2240
• V(x) = -=

• .
• In a study to test the effectiveness of a new variety of wheat, an experiment was performed with
50 experimental fields and the following results were obtained:
Yield per Number of
Hectare Fields (in
quintals)

30-35 2
35-40 3
40-45 8
45-50 12
50-55 16
55-60 5
60-65 2
65-70 2

• The mean yield per hectare is 49.5 quintals. Determine the variance and the standard deviation of the
above distribution.
Ans: 58
Standard Deviation and Variance for combined group
• This concept is required when we are given two sets of values and we know the mean and the standard
deviation for each of these sets. then the standard deviation of the compound group is given as follows:

• If a set of values have the mean and the standard deviation and if another set of values have the mean and
the standard deviation .then the standard deviation of the combined set of

• Values is given by

• where .

• Recall that , therefore ,the variance of the combined series is V= .

• Where , have the same meaning as given above.

Coefficient of Dispersion and the Coefficient of Variation:

• These Coefficients are relative measures of variation. They are used for comparing the variance in frequency
distribution. They are independent of the unit of measurement of the values. A high value of the coefficient
indicates high degree of variation.

• The Coefficient of Dispersion

• C.D. =

• The Coefficient of Variation

• C.V.=C.D.*100=.
Characteristics of a Good Measure of Dispersion

1. It should be easy to calculate & simple to understand.

2. It should be based on all the observations of the series.

3. It should be rigidly defined.

4. It should not be affected by extreme values.

5. It should not be unduly affected by sampling fluctuations.

6. It should be capable of further mathematical treatment and statistical analysis.

Exercise
1. Calculate the range and the coefficient of range of A’s monthly earning for a year
Month Monthly Month Monthly Month Monthly
earning earning earning
1 139 5 157 9 162
2 150 6 158 10 162
3 151 7 160 11 173
4 151 8 161 12 175

Answer: Range: 36, Coefficient of range: 0.115

2. (a) The following table gives the age distribution of a group of 50 individuals
Age (in 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-36
years)
No. of 10 15 17 8
Persons

• Calculate range and the coefficient of range.

b) If the variables x and y are related by 3x-2y+5=0 and the range of x is 8, find the range of y.

• Answer: a) 20 and 0.39, b) 12

3. Find:
i) Inter-quartile range, ii) Quartile deviation, iii) Coefficient of Quartile Deviation, for the following
distribution:
Class Interval 0-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-75 75-90 90-105
Frequency 8 26 30 45 20 17 4
• Answer: i) 30.875, ii) 15.44, iii) 0.33
4. Evaluate quartile deviation for the following data:
Income (In Rs.) Less than 50 50-70 70-90 90-110 110-130 130-150 Above 150
No. of Persons 54 100 140 300 230 125 51
• Answer: 19.925
5. Calculate the mean deviation from mean for the following data.

Class Interval 2-4 4-6 6-8 8-10

Frequency 3 4 2 1
Answer: 1.48
6. Find the mean deviation from mean for the following data
Class Interval
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70
Frequency
8 12 10 8 3 2 7
Answer: 16
7. Calculate the standard deviation of the following observations on a certain variable:
240.12, 240.13, 240.15, 240.12, 240.17, 240.15, 240.17, 240.16, 240.22, 240.21
Answer: 0.03256
8. Calculate the mean and standard deviation from the following data:
Values 90-99 80-89 70-79 60-69 50-59 40-49 30-39
Frequency 2 12 22 20 14 4 1

Answer: 12.505
9. The arithmetic mean and the standard deviation of a set of 9 items are 43 and 5
respectively. If an item of value 63 is added to the set, find the mean and standard
deviation of 10 items.
• Answer: 7.65

10. The variance of a series of numbers 2,3,11 and x is 12 ¼ . Find the value of x.
• Answer: 6 or 14/3.

11. The mean of 5 observations is 4.4 and the variance is 8.24. If three of the five
observations are 1,2 and 6, find the values of the other two.
• Answer: 4 and 9.

12. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation of series of 20 items were calculated by a
student as 20 cm and 5 cm respectively. But while calculating them an item 13 was misread
as 30. Find the correct arithmetic mean and standard deviation.
• Answer: 4.6615
13. The mean marks of two groups of students in a certain test are 76.5
and 76.25 respectively with the standard deviation 16.97 and 5.82 for the
two groups. Find which group is consistent or uniform.
Ans: C.V of group 1 = 22.183 and C.V of group 2 = 7.6328 group 2 is more
uniform
14. There are 2 groups of children having 50 and 70 children respectively.
The arithmetic means of weights of the children in 2 groups are 30 kgs and
40 kgs with standard deviations 16 kgs and 5 kgs respectively. Find the
combined mean and standard deviation of the entire group containing 120
children.
Ans: combined mean = 35.83 kgs and combined sd= 7.3412