CHAPTER - 3

3. Measure of Central Tendency

3.1 Introduction
The most important objective of statistical analysis is to determine a single value for the entire mass of
data, which describes the overall level of the group of observations and can be called a representative of
the whole set of data. It tells us where the center of the distribution of data is located.
The most commonly used measures of central tendencies are:
 The Mean (Arithmetic mean, Weighted mean, Geometric mean and Harmonic means)
 The Median  The Mode
 Quantiles (Quartiles, Deciles and Percentiles).
The Summation Notation :
 Let be a number of observations in the population where is the total number of
observation and is the ith observation.
 Very often in statistics an algebraic expression of the form is used in a formula
to compute a parameter and statistic. It is tedious to write an expression like this very often, so
mathematicians have developed a shorthand notation to represent a sum of scores (observations),
called the summation notation.
 The symbol is a mathematical shorthand for

Example: Suppose the following were scores (marks) made on the first assignment for five
Students in the class: Write their marks using summation notation.
Solution:
Properties of summation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

7. +

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3.2 Types of Measure of Central Tendency
3.2.1 The Mean
[Link] Arithmetic mean ( ̅ )
The arithmetic mean of a sample is the sum of all the observation divided by the number of observations in

the sample. i.e.

Suppose that are n observed values in a sample of size n taken from a population of
size N. Then the arithmetic mean of the sample, denoted by ̅ , is given by

̅
If we take an entire population, the population mean denoted by µ is given by

In general, the sample arithmetic mean is calculated by

Example 1: The net weights of five perfume bottles selected at random from the production line
What is the arithmetic mean weight of the sample observation?
Solution;
̅ = = .

Example 2: Calculate the mean of the marks of 46 students given below;

Marks ( ) 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Frequency ( ) 1 2 3 6 10 11 7 3 2 1

Solution: is the sum of the frequencies or total number of observations.

To calculate consider the following table.

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total
1 2 3 6 10 11 7 3 2 1 46
9 20 33 72 130 154 105 48 34 18 623

So ̅ .
Example 3: The net income of a sample of large importers of Urea was organized into the
following table. What is the arithmetic mean of net income?
Net income (CI) 2-4 5-7 8-10 11-13 14-16
Number of importers ( )) 1 4 10 3 2

Solution: is the sum of the frequencies or total number of observations.

To calculate consider the following table.

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 Net income (CI) 2-4 5-7 8-10 11-13 14-16 Total
Number of importers ( ) 1 4 10 3 2 20
Class marks ( ) 3 6 9 12 15
3 24 90 36 30 183

̅ .

Example 4: From the following data, calculate the missing frequency? The mean number of
tablets to cure ever was 29.18.
Number of tablets
Number of persons cured 6 13 19 18 12 9

Solution: is the sum of the frequencies or total number of observations.

To calculate consider the following table.
CI Total
6 13 19 18 12 9
20 23 26 29 32 35 38
120 299 494 576 420 342

Combined mean ( )
If we have an arithmetic means of n groups having the same unit of measurement of
a variable, with sizes observations respectively, we can compute the combined mean
of the variant values of the groups taken all together from the individual means by
̅ ̅ ̅ ̅

Example 1: Compute the combined mean for the following two sets.

Solution: ̅ ̅
̅ ̅

Example 2: The mean weight of 150 students in a certain class is 60 kg. The mean weight of boys in the
class is 70 kg and that of girl’s is 55 kg . Find the number of boys and girls in the class?
Solution; Let be the number of boys and be the number of girls in the class.
Also let be the mean weights of boys, girls and the mean weights of
all students respectively. Then

̅ ̅

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 Properties of arithmetic mean
1. The algebraic sum of the deviations of each value (xi from the mean is e ual to ero. hat is
∑ ̅ ∑ ̅ ̅ ̅
As an e.g., the mean of Then ∑ ̅
For this reason, we can consider the mean as a "balance point" for a set of data.
2. The sum of squares of deviations from arithmetic mean is the least (minimum), that is
∑ ̅ ̅
3. If we transform the original observations to
then the mean of the transformed values, is given by ̅ ̅

4. All observations are involved in its calculation.

5. The mean is sensitive to extreme values.
6. Uniqueness: the mean of any set of data is unique.
7. It can be used for further treatment.

Limitation of the arithmetic mean

1. The mean is meaningless in the case of nominal or qualitative data.
2. In case of grouped data, if any class interval is open ended, arithmetic mean cannot be calculated,
since the class mark of that interval cannot be found.
[Link] Weighted mean
In the computation of arithmetic mean, we had given an equal importance to each observation.
Sometimes the individual values in the data may not have an equally importance. When this is the
case, we assigned to each weight which is proportional to its relative importance.
The weighted mean of a set of values with corresponding weights
denoted by ̅ is computed by:

The calculation of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in Colleges and Universities is a good example of weighted mean.
Example: If a student scores "A" in a 3 EtCTS course, "B" in a 6 EtCTS course, "B" in another 5
EtCTS course and "D" in a 2 EtCTS course. Compute his /her GPA for the semester.
Solution: Here the numerical values of the letter grades are the values (i.e.
) and the corresponding EtCTS of the course are their respective weights. i.e.
Grade Score A B B D
Grade values ( ) 4 3 3 1
Weight ( ) 3 6 5 2

= .

[Link] Geometric mean

In algebra geometric mean is calculated in the case of geometric progression, but in statistics we need not
bother about the progression, here it is particular type of data for which the geometric mean is of great

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importance because it gives a good mean value. If the observed values are measured as ratios, proportions
or percentages, then the geometric mean gives a better measure of central tendency than any other means.
The Geometrical mean of a set of values of n positive values is defined as the
nth root of their product. That is,
√
Example: The G.M of 4, 8 and 6 is
√ √
In general, the sample geometric mean is calculated by
√
{ √
√
Example1: The man gets three annual raises in his salary. At the end of first year, he gets an increase of
4%, at the end of the second year, he gets an increase of 6% and at the end of the third year, he
gets an increase of 9% of his salary. What is the average percentage increase in the three periods?
Solution: √ = 1.0631 =>

Example 2: Compute the Geometric mean of the following data.

Values 2 4 6 8 10
Frequency 1 2 2 2 1

√ √ √ .
Example 3: Suppose that the profits earned by a certain construction company in four projects
were 3%, 2%, 4% & 6% respectively. What is the Geometric mean profit?
√ √

[Link] Harmonic mean

Another important mean is the harmonic mean, which is suitable measure of central tendency when
the data pertains to speed (rates) and price.
Let be n variant values in a set of observations, then simple harmonic mean is given by:

Note: SHM is used for equal distances and equal costs.

Example 1: A motorist travels for three days at a rate (speed) of 480 km/day. On the first day he
travels 10 hours at a rate of 48 km/h, on the second day 12 hours at a rate of 40 km/h,
on the third day 15 hours at a rate of 32 km/h. What is the average speed?
Solution: Since the distance covered by the motorist is equal.

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 ), so we use SHM.
so the required average speed .

We can check this, by using the known formula for average speed in elementary physics.

Check; = = h.

Example 2: A business man spent 20 Birr for milk at 40 cents per liter in Mizan-Aman town and
another 20 Birr at 60 cents per liter in Tepi town. What is the average price of milk at two towns.
Solution: Since the costs on the two towns are equal (20 Birr), so we use SHM.
(

Weighted harmonic mean (WHM)

 WHM is used for different distance and different cost.

Example 1: A driver travel for 3 days. On the 1st day he drives for 10h at a speed of 48 km/h, on the
2nd day for 12h at 45 km/h and on the 3rd day for 15h at 40 km/h. What is the average speed?
Solution: since the distance covered by the driver is not equal, so we use WHM by
taking the distance as weights (wi).

( )

Example 2: A business man spent 20 Birr for milk at rate of 40 cents per liter in Mizan-Aman town and 25
Birr at a price of 50 cents per liter in Tepi town. What is the average price?
Solution: Since the costs on the two towns are different, so we use WHM by taking the cost as weights (wi).

( )

 (Finally If all the observations are positive)

Corrected mean
̅ ̅ ̅ and

Example: The mean age of a group of 100 persons was found to be 32.02 years. Later on, it was
discovered that age of 57 was misread as 27. Find the corrected mean?
Solution: ̅

̅ ̅

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Median and mode
3.2.2 The Median (̃)
Suppose we sort all the observations in numerical order, ranging from smallest to largest or vice
versa. Then the median is the middle value in the sorted list. We denote it by ̃.
Let be n ordered observations. Then the median is given by:

̃ {

Example 1: Find the median for the following data:

Solution: First arrange the given data in increasing order. That is
̃
Example 2: Find the median for the following data:
Solution: First arrange the given data in increasing order. That is

Median for ungrouped data

Let have their corresponding frequencies then to find the median:
 First sort the data in ascending order.
 Construct the less than cumulative frequency (lcf).
 If is odd, find and search the minimum lcf which is . Then the
variant value corresponding to this minimum lcf is the median.
 If n is even, find and search the minimum lcf which is ( ) ( )

Then the average of the variant values corresponding to these minimum lcf is the median.
Example 1: Find the median for the following data.
Values (xi) 3 5 4 2 7 6
Frequency (fi) 2 1 3 2 1 1

Solution: First arrange the data in increasing order and then construct the lcf table for this data.
Values (xi) 2 3 4 5 6 7
Frequency (fi) 2 2 3 1 1 1
Lcf 2 4 7 8 9 10

Then the smallest lcf which is and the variant value corresponding to this lcf is 4.
Thus the median is ̃

Example 2: Calculate the median of the marks of 46 students given below.

Values (xi) 10 9 11 12 14 13 15 16 17 18
Frequency (fi) 2 1 3 6 10 11 7 3 2 1

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Solution: First arrange the data in ascending order and then construct the lcf table for this data.
Values (xi) 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Frequency (fi) 1 2 3 6 11 10 7 3 2 1
LCF 1 3 6 12 23 33 40 43 45 46

the variant values corresponding to

these lcf are respectively. Thus the median ̃

Median for grouped data

The formula for computing the median for grouped data is given by
( )
̃ ̃

 ̃





Note: The class corresponding to the smallest lcf which is is called the median class.

So that the median lies in this class.

Steps to calculate the median for grouped data
 First construct the lcf table.
 Determine the median class. To determine the median class, find and search the smallest lcf which

is . Then the class corresponding to this lcf is the median class.

Example 1: Find the median for the following data.

Daily production
Frequency 5 9 20 8 6 2

Solution: First construct the lcf table.

Daily production(CI)
Frequency(fi) 5 9 20 8 6 2
Lcf 5 14 34 42 48 50

To obtain the median class, calculate Thus the smallest lcf which is is 34. So the

class corresponding to this lcf is

̃

( )
̃ ̃

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 Properties of the median
1. The median is unique.
2. It can be computed for an open ended FD if the median does not lie in an open ended class.
3. It is not affected by extremely large or small values.
4. It is not so suitable for algebraic manipulations.
5. It can be computed for ratio level, interval level and ordinal level data.
3.2.3 The mode ( ̂ )
In every day speech, something is “in the mode” if it is fashionable or popular. In statistics
this “popularity” refers to frequency of observations.
Therefore, mode is the `most frequently observed value in a set of observations.

Remark: In a set of observed values, all values occur once or equal number of times, there is no mode.
Mode for a grouped data
If the data is grouped such that we are given frequency distribution of finite class intervals, we do not know
the value of every item, but we easily determine the class with highest frequency. Therefore, the modal
class is the class with the highest frequency. So that the mode of the distribution lies in this class.
To compute the mode for a grouped data we use the formula:
̂ ̂ ( )

 ̂ –




Example 1: The ages of newly hired, unskilled employees are grouped into the following
distribution. Then compute the modal age?
Ages
Number 4 8 11 20 7

Solution: First we determine the modal class. The modal class is , since it has the highest
frequency. ̂

̂ ̂ ( ) ( ) ( )

Interpretation: The age of most of these newly hired employees is 27.7 (27 years and 7 months).

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Example 2: The following table shows the distribution of a group of families according to their expenditure
per week. The median and the mode of the following distribution are known to be 25.50 Birr and 24.50
Birr respectively. Two frequency values are however missing from the table. Find the missing frequencies.

Class interval
Frequency 14 27 15

Solution: The lcf table of the given distribution can be formed as follows.

Expenditure (CI)
Number of families (fi) 14 27 15
Lcf 14

Here: Since the median and the mode are Birr 25.5 & 24.5 respectively then the
class is the median class as well as the modal class.
( )

&

Further simplifying the above we get

&

Properties of mode
1. It is not affected by extreme values of a set of observations.
2. It can be calculated for distribution with open ended classes.
3. It can be computed for all levels of data i.e. nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio.
4. The main drawback of mode is that often it does not exist.
5. Often its values are not unique.
3.3 Measure of non-central location (Quintiles’)
 There are three types of quintiles. These are:
1. Quartiles ( )
The quartiles are the three points, which divide a given order data into four equal parts. These

Q1 is the value corresponding to ordered observation.

Q2 is the value corresponding to ordered observation.

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 Q3 is the value corresponding to ordered observation.

Example: Consider the age data given below and calculate Q1, Q2, and Q3.
19, 20, 22, 22, 17, 22, 20, 23, 17, 18
Solution: First arrange the data in ascending order, n=10.
17, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22, 23
 Q1 = = = (2.75)th observation = 2nd observation + 0.75 (3rd - 2nd)

observation
Therefore 25% of the observations are below 17.75

Q2 = = = (5.5)th observation

Q3 = = (8.25)th observation = 8th + 0.25x(9th - 8th) = 22+0.25x(22-22)= 22

Calculation of quartiles for grouped data

For the grouped data, the computations of the three quartiles can be done as follows:
 First construct the lcf table.
 Determine the ith quartile class. To determine the ith quartile class, calculate and search the
minimum lcf which is
The class corresponding to this minimum lcf is called the ith quartile class. This is the class where Qi lies.
The unique value of the ith quartile (Qi) is then calculated by the formula
( )





2. Percentiles ( )
Percentiles are 99 points, which divide a given ordered data into 100 equal parts. These

Calculation of percentiles for grouped data

For the grouped data, the computations of the 99 percentiles can be done as follows:
 First construct the lcf table.
 Determine the mth percentile class. To determine the mth percentile class, calculate and search

the minimum lcf which is

The class corresponding to this lcf is called the mth percentile class. This is the class where Pm lies.
The unique value of the mth percentile (Pm)) is then calculated by the formula
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 ( )


3. Deciles ( )
Deciles are the nine points, which divide the given ordered data into 10 equal parts.

For the grouped data, the computations of the 9 deciles can be done as follows:
 First construct the lcf table.

 Determine the kth decile class. To determine the kth decile class, calculate and search the

minimum lcf which is

The class corresponding to this lcf is called the kth decile class. This is the class where Dk lies.
The unique value of the kth decile ( ) is calculated by the formula
( )


Note that: and

Example: For the following FD data , find

a) b) c)

Class interval (CI)

F 10 22 20 14 14

Solution: First construct the lcf table.

Class Interval (CI) Total

f 10 22 20 14 14 80
lcf 10 32 52 66 80

a) . Thus, the minimum lcf just is 32 so the class corresponding to this

, is the first quartile class.

( )

Thus, the minimum lcf just is 52 so the class corresponding to this

, is the second quartile class.

( )

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b) Thus, the minimum lcf just is 32 so the class corresponding to this

, is the 25th percentile class.

( )

c) Thus, the minimum lcf just is 10 so the class corresponding to this

is the first decile class.

( )

0 5 77 5 5
5, 50 and 75 D1 = P10, D2 = P20, D3 = P30 and D5 = P50
and median = Q2 = D5 = P50

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