DAT A M AN A GE M E N T:

FREQUE N CY D IBUTION
S TR I
IN THE M OD ERN W ORL D
MATHEMATICS

G R . DAH LIA D . D E LEON-FERNANDEZ

EN
 Grouped Frequency Distribution
is used when the range of the data set is large; the data must be grouped into classes whether
it is categorical data or interval data.
 
 For interval data the class is more than one unit in width.
 
 Categorical Frequency Distribution
is used to organize nominal-level or ordinal-level type of data.
 
Some examples are:
gender
business type
political affiliation
Religion
Example 1: Twenty applicants were given a performance evaluation appraisal. The data
set is. Construct a frequency distribution for the data:

High High High Low Average

 
Average Low Average Average Average
 
Low Average Average High High
 
Low Low Average High High

 
Solution:
Step 1: Construct a table.
Step 2:

Step 3: Convert the tallied data into numerical frequencies

Step 4: Determine the percentage. The percentage is computed using the formula:
 
Percentage =
 
where f = frequency of the class and n = total number values

For the sample, more applicants received an average performance rating.

Determining Class Interval:

Generally:

 the number of classes for a frequency distribution table varies from 5 to 20,
depending primarily on the number of observations in the data set
 it is preferred to have more classes as the size of the data increases
 the decision about the number of classes depends on the method used by
the researcher
Rule 1: To determine the number of classes is to use the smallest positive integer k such that 2k
n, where n is the total number of observations.

 
Suggested Class Interval = =
 
where: HV = highest value in data set
LV = lowest value in data set
k = number of classes
i = suggested class interval
 
Rule 2: Another way to determine the class interval is applying the formula below.

Suggested Class Interval =

 
 
  Group Frequency Distribution
Example 2: Suppose a researcher wished to do a study on the month salary of young professionals of
selected companies in Makati City. The researcher first would have to collect the data by asking each young
professional about his monthly salary. The data collected in original form is called raw data. In this case, the
data are:

 
Construct a frequency distribution using 2k Rule and determine the following:
 
a. Range e. Percentages
b. Interval f. Cumulative Frequencies
c. Class g. Midpoints
d. Relative Frequencies
Solution:
 
Step 1: Arrange the raw data in ascending or descending order. In this example, we will arrange the raw data
in ascending order

 
Step 2: Determine the classes.
 
• Find the highest and lowest value.
Highest Value (HV) = 33500 and Lowest Value (LV) = 14000

• Find the Range

Range = HV-LV = 33,500 – 14000 = 19500
 
• Determine the number of classes.

The objective is to use just enough classes. We can determine the number
of classes (k) using “2 to the k rule”. This will enable us to select the
smallest number (k) for the number of classes such that 2k (2 raised to the
  power of k) is greater than the number of observations (n). Using our
example, there are 80 call center agent ( or n = 80). If we apply k=6, which
means we would use 6 classes, then 2 k =26 =64, somewhat less than 80.
Thus, 6 is not enough classes. If we try k=7, then 2 k =27 =128, which is
greater than 80. Therefore, the recommended number of classes is 7.
 
• Determine the class interval (or width).
Generally, the class interval or width should be equal for all classes. The classes must cover all the values
in the raw data (that is, from lowest to highest). Class interval is generated using the formula:
 
Suggested Class Interval = = = = 2785.71 ~ 2800

Note: Round the value of the interval up to the nearest whole number if there is a remainder.

• Select the starting point for the lowest class limit.

The starting point can be the smallest data value or any convenient number less than the smallest data
value. In this case 14000 is used.
 
• Set the individual class limit.
We need to add the interval or width to the lowest score taken as the starting point to obtain the lower
limit of the next class. Keep adding until we reach 7 classes, as reflected 14000; 16800; 19600; 22400;
25200; 28000 and 30800.
To obtain the upper class limits, we first need to add the interval to the lower limit of the class to obtain the
upper limit of the class. That is, 14000+2800=16800. Then add the interval to each lower limit t obtain the
upper limits.

Step 3: Tally the raw data

Step 4: Convert the tallied data into numerical frequencies.

Step 5: Determine the relative frequency. It can be found by dividing each frequency
by the total frequency.
Step 6: Determine the percentage. It can be found by multiplying 100% in each relative
frequency.

Step 7: Determine the cumulative frequencies. The cumulative frequency can be found
by adding the frequency in each class to the total frequencies of the classes
preceding that class.
Step 8: Determine the midpoints. The midpoint can be found by getting the average
of the upper limit and lower limit in each class.
Example 3: SJS Travel Agency, a nationwide local travel agency, offers special rates on summer period. The
owner wants additional information on the ages of those people taking travel tours. A random sample of 50
customers taking travel tours last summer revealed these ages.

Solution:
Step 1: Arrange the raw data in ascending order
Step 2: Determine the classes.

Find the highest and lowest value.

Highest Value (HV) = 77 and Lowest Value (LV) = 18

Find the range.

Range = Highest Value (HV) – Lowest Value (LV) = 77 – 18 = 59

Determine the class interval or width

Class interval is generated using the formula below:
 
Suggested Class Interval = =
 
==
 
= 8.88 ≈ 9
• Select a starting point for the lowest class limit. The lowest value in the data set is 18, this will also serve
as our starting point.

• Set the individual class limit. We will add 9 to each lower class limit until reaching the number of classes
(18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, and 72). To obtain the upper class limits, we need to add 9 to the lower limit of the
class to obtain the upper limit of the first class. Then add the interval (or width) to each upper limit to
obtain all the upper limits (27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72 and 8
 
Step 3: Tally the raw data
Step 4: Convert the tallied data into numerical frequencies

Step 5: Determine the percentage.

END!!!