STATISTICS ASSIGNMENT
Descriptive Statistics: Frequency Distributions, Stem-and-Leaf & Mean
Objective
The objective of this assignment is to enable students to apply fundamental descriptive statistical
techniques, including the construction of frequency distributions, creation of stem-and-leaf charts, and
calculation of the mean, in order to organize, summarize, and interpret real-world data effectively.
Total Marks: 20
Question 1 [Marks = 10]
Given Data: Daily income (in Rs.) of 40 workers:
120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 195, 210, 225, 240, 255, 270, 285, 300, 320, 340, 360,
380, 400, 420, 450, 480, 500, 520, 550, 580, 600, 620, 650, 680, 700, 720, 750,
780, 800, 820, 850, 880, 900, 950, 1000
Part (a): Grouped Frequency Distribution (Class Width = 200)
Formula for class boundaries:
Lower Class Boundary (LCB) = Lower Class Limit − 0.5
Upper Class Boundary (UCB) = Upper Class Limit + 0.5
The data ranges from 120 to 1000. With class width h = 200, the classes are constructed as follows:
Frequen
Class Interval Class Boundaries Less-than C.F.
cy (f)
120 – 320 13 119.5 – 319.5 13
320 – 520 9 319.5 – 519.5 22
520 – 720 8 519.5 – 719.5 30
720 – 920 8 719.5 – 919.5 38
920 – 1120 2 919.5 – 1119.5 40
Total 40
Part (b): Class Boundaries
Class boundaries are computed by subtracting and adding 0.5 to the lower and upper class limits
respectively, to eliminate gaps between successive classes:
LCB = Lower Class Limit − 0.5
UCB = Upper Class Limit + 0.5
Class Interval Lower Boundary (LCB) Upper Boundary (UCB)
120 – 320 119.5 319.5
320 – 520 319.5 519.5
520 – 720 519.5 719.5
720 – 920 719.5 919.5
920 – 1120 919.5 1119.5
Part (c): Less-than Cumulative Frequency Distribution
The less-than cumulative frequency (C.F.) is the running total of frequencies up to and including each
class:
Less-than C.F. of a class = Sum of all frequencies up to and including that class
Class Interval Frequency (f) Less-than C.F.
Less than 320 13 < 320 13
Less than 520 9 < 520 22
Less than 720 8 < 720 30
Less than 920 8 < 920 38
Less than 1120 2 < 1120 40
Question 2 [Marks = 3]
Given Data: 20 values:
12, 15, 18, 11, 14, 19, 22, 25, 27, 24, 29, 31, 33, 35, 32, 38, 41, 44, 47, 49
Stem-and-Leaf Plot
Each observation is split into a stem (tens digit) and a leaf (units digit). The stems are arranged in
ascending order in the left column, and the corresponding leaves are listed in the right column.
General rule:
Observation = Stem × 10 + Leaf
For example: 25 → Stem = 2, Leaf = 5 | 38 → Stem = 3, Leaf = 8
Stem
| Leaves (Units)
(Tens)
1 | 1 2 4 5 8 9
2 | 2 4 5 7 9
3 | 1 2 3 5 8
4 | 1 4 7 9
Key: 2 | 5 means 25
Observation: The data is distributed across four stems (1, 2, 3, 4), indicating values range from 11 to
49. Stem 1 has the most leaves (6), followed by stems 2 and 3 (5 each), and stem 4 (4 leaves). The
distribution appears roughly uniform.
Question 3 [Marks = 7]
Given Data: Marks obtained by 25 students in a test.
Part (i): Relative Frequency Distribution
Formula:
Relative Frequency = f / Σf = f / n
where f = class frequency and n = Σf = 25 (total number of students).
Frequen
Class Interval Midpoint (x) Relative Frequency (f / n) Rel. Freq. (%)
cy (f)
10 – 20 3 15 3/25 = 0.12 12%
20 – 30 5 25 5/25 = 0.20 20%
30 – 40 9 35 9/25 = 0.36 36%
40 – 50 6 45 6/25 = 0.24 24%
50 – 60 2 55 2/25 = 0.08 8%
Total 25 1.00 100%
Part (ii): Arithmetic Mean (Grouped Data)
For grouped frequency data, the arithmetic mean is calculated using the midpoint of each class interval:
Step 1: Formula
x̄ = Σ(f · x) / Σf
where x = midpoint of each class, f = frequency, Σf = total frequency = n
Step 2: Calculate Midpoints and f·x products
Midpoint x = (L + U) /
Class Interval f f·x
2
10 – 20 3 15 3 × 15 = 45
20 – 30 5 25 5 × 25 = 125
30 – 40 9 35 9 × 35 = 315
40 – 50 6 45 6 × 45 = 270
50 – 60 2 55 2 × 55 = 110
Σf = 25 Σ(f · x) = 865
Step 3: Apply the Formula
x̄ = Σ(f · x) / Σf
x̄ = (3×15) + (5×25) + (9×35) + (6×45) + (2×55) / 25
x̄ = 45 + 125 + 315 + 270 + 110 / 25
x̄ = 865 / 25
x̄ = 34.6
∴ Arithmetic Mean x̄ = 34.6 marks
Interpretation: The arithmetic mean of 34.6 marks indicates that, on average, each student scored
approximately 34.6 marks in the test. Since the highest frequency (9) falls in the 30–40 class, this is
consistent with the mean falling in that range.