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Categorical and Grouped Frequency Distributions

Frequency Distributions and • The categorical frequency distribution is used for data that can be
placed in specific categories, such as nominal or ordinal-level data.
Graphs For example, data such as political affiliation, blood type, or major
field of study would use categorical frequency distributions.
MATH 2031: Probability and Statistics
Temple University, Japan Campus • When the range of the data is large, the data must be grouped into
classes that are more than one unit in width, in what is called a
grouped frequency distribution.

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Frequency Distribution

• A frequency distribution is the organization of raw data in table form,

using classes and frequencies.
• The relative frequency is the proportion (or percent) of scores (or Categorical Frequency Distributions
observations) within an interval (or category) and is found using the
formula:
Relative frequency = frequency / Sum of All Frequencies
• A relative frequency distribution lists each category of data together
with the relative frequency.

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Problem – Political Party Affiliations Problem – Political Party Affiliations

• Students in an introductory statistics class are asked to state their • Students in an introductory statistics class are asked to state their
political party affiliations as A, B, or C. political party affiliations as A, B, or C.
• The responses of 25 students in the class are given in the following • The responses of 25 students in the class are given in the following
table. table.

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Pie Charts
Problem – Political Party Affiliations • A pie chart is a disk divided into wedge-shaped pieces proportional to the relative
frequencies of the qualitative data.
• Students in an introductory statistics class are asked to state their • Obtain a relative-frequency distribution of the data
• Divide a disk into wedge-shaped pieces proportional to the relative frequencies.
political party affiliations as A, B, or C.
• Label the slices with the distinct values and their frequencies, relative frequencies, or percents.
• The responses of 25 students in the class are given in the following
table.

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Pie Charts Problem – Academic Majors

• Students in an introductory statistics class are asked to state their political party affiliations as
A, B, or C. • The pie chart shows the distribution
• What percentage of the students are affiliated with Party A? according to academic major of a
• What percentage of the students are affiliated with Party A or Party B? group of students at TUJ.
• Given that 200 students were surveyed in a study, approximately how many students were
affiliated with Party C? • None of them have double majors.
• How many students were surveyed?
• Approximately what percent are
majoring in something other than
art?
• What percent of students are
majoring in Economics and Business
Studies?

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Bar Graphs Problem – Political Party Affiliations

• A bar graph (or chart) displays the distinct values of the qualitative data on a horizontal • Students in an introductory statistics class are asked to state their political party affiliations as A, B, or C.
axis and the relative frequencies (or frequencies or percents) of those values on a • What percentage of the students are affiliated with Party A?
vertical axis. • What percentage of the students are affiliated with Party A or Party B?
• Obtain a relative-frequency distribution of the data. • Given that 200 students were surveyed in a study, approximately how many students were affiliated
• Draw a horizontal axis on which to place the bars and a vertical axis on which to display the relative
frequencies. with Party C?
• For each distinct value, construct a vertical bar whose height equals the relative frequency of that value.
• Label the bars with the distinct values, the horizontal axis with the name of the variable, and the vertical
axis with “Frequency”, “Relative Frequency”, or “Percent

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Problem – Grades Problem – Dog’s Favorite Treat

• The bar graph shows the
percentage distribution of • The bar graph shows the results of a
grades on a test. survey in which a number of dog owners
• Assuming that 150 students were asked "What is your dog’s favorite
took the test: treat?" No owner gave multiple answers.
• How many received grades of A • What percent of owners said that their
or B? dog’s favorite treat was salmon?
• How many received a grade of • What percent of owners said that their
C? dog’s favorite treat was peanut butter?
• How many received grades of D
or F?

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Problem – Blood Types

• Twenty-five students were given a blood test to determine
their blood type. The data set is:

A B B AB O
O O B AB B
B B O A O
A O O O AB
AB A O B A

• Construct a frequency distribution for the data.

• Construct a bar graph
• Construct a pie chart
• What percent of the sample had type A blood?
• What percent of the sample had type B blood?
• What percent of the sample had type A or B blood?
• Given that 200 people were surveyed in a study, how many
had type A blood?

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Problem – Types of Vitamin

• A pharmacy recorded the type of vitamins 30 customers purchased. Make a

categorical frequency distribution for the data:
A = vitamin A B = vitamin B complex C = vitamin C
Grouped Frequency Distributions
D = vitamin D E = vitamin E

C E A C C D E A C C
D B C B C C C B A E
E B C D E A D A E B

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Cumulative Frequency and Cumulative Relative

Constructing a Grouped Frequency Distribution
Frequency Distributions
• Determine the classes.
• A cumulative frequency distribution indicates the number of scores • Find the highest and lowest values.
that fall below the upper limit of each class (or interval). • Find the range.
• A cumulative relative frequency distribution indicates the proportion • Select the number of classes desired.
(percent) of scores that fall below the upper limit of each class (or • Find the width by dividing the range by the number of classes and rounding up.
interval) • Select a starting point (usually the lowest value or any convenient number less than the
lowest value); add the width to get the lower limits.
• Find the upper-class limits.
• Find the boundaries.
• Tally the data.
• Find the numerical frequencies from the tallies, and find the cumulative frequencies.

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Problem – Algebra Exam Problem – Algebra Exam

• The following are the scores on the first exam of the algebra class (N = 45). • The following are the scores on the first exam of the algebra class (N = 45).

• Arrange the data values in ascending order: • Arrange the data values in ascending order:

50 92 52 66 58 59 60 62 66 50 92 52 66 58 59 60 62 66 50 52 55 58 59
68 69 61 99 88 94 72 93 76 68 69 61 99 88 94 72 93 76 60 61 62 63 66 66 68 69
88 78 79 71 90 75 97 78 79 88 78 79 71 90 75 97 78 79 70 71 72 73 75 76 76 76 78 78 79 79
76 80 82 86 86 63 89 81 83 76 80 82 86 86 63 89 81 83 80 81 82 83 85 86 86 87 88 88 88 89 89
73 85 88 70 76 55 89 87 99 73 85 88 70 76 55 89 87 99 90 92 93 94 97 99 99

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Problem – Algebra Exam Problem – Algebra Exam

Frequency, Relative Frequency, Cumulative Frequency, and Cumulative Relative Frequency
• The researcher must decide how many classes to use and the width of each
class. To construct a frequency distribution, follow these rules:
• Highest score: 99
• Lowest score: 50
• Range = 99 – 50 = 49
• Number of Classes: 5
• Width = 49/5 = 9.8 ≈ 10
In this distribution, the values 50 and 59 of the first class are called class limits. The lower class
50 52 55 58 59 limit is 50; it represents the smallest data value that can be included in the class. The upper class
60 61 62 63 66 66 68 69 limit is 59. represents the largest data value that can be included in the class.
70 71 72 73 75 76 76 76 78 78 79 79 Lower Boundary = Lower limit – 0.5 = 50 – 0.5 = 49.5
80 81 82 83 85 86 86 87 88 88 88 89 89 Upper Boundary = Upper limit + 0.5 = 59 + 0.5 = 59.5
These class boundaries are used to separate the classes so that there are no gaps in the
90 92 93 94 97 99 99
frequency distribution.

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Problem – Algebra Exam Problem – Algebra Exam

Frequency, Relative Frequency, Cumulative Frequency, and Cumulative Relative Frequency Frequency, Relative Frequency, Cumulative Frequency, and Cumulative Relative Frequency

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Problem – Algebra Exam Histogram

• A histogram is a method for organizing and summarizing quantitative data.
Frequency, Relative Frequency, Cumulative Frequency, and Cumulative Relative Frequency
• It is constructed by drawing rectangles for each class of data.

• The height of each rectangle is the frequency or relative frequency of the class.

• The width of each rectangle is the same and the rectangles touch each other.

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Histogram – Algebra Exam

Histogram – Algebra Exam

The class midpoint = (lower boundary + upper boundary) / 2

The midpoint of the first class is (49.5 + 59.5) / 2 = 54.5

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Problem – Algebra Exam Identify the Shape of a Distribution

• Bell-shaped (symmetric): A • When a curve is positively • When a curve is negatively
• The scores on the first exam of the curve is symmetrical if when skewed (or skewed right), skewed (or skewed left), most of
folded in half the two sides most of the scores occur at the the scores occur at the higher
algebra class are shown. lower values of the horizontal
coincide. If a curve is not values of the horizontal axis and
a) What is the frequency for scores symmetrical, it is skewed. axis and the curve tails off the curve tails off toward the
toward the higher end.
between 60 and 79? lower end.
b) What is the frequency for scores
lower 60?
c) What percent of scores are 80 or
higher?
d) What is the relative frequency of
scores lower than 70?
e) What is the cumulative relative
frequency for scores lower than
90?

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Problem – Record High Temperatures Problem – Record High Temperatures

• The record high temperatures for each of the 50 Class Boundaries Frequencies
states are shown. 99.5 – 104.5 2
a) Construct a histogram. 104.5 – 109.5 8
b) Comment on the shape of the distribution. 109.5 – 114.5 18
c) Construct frequency, relative frequency, cumulative 114.5 – 119.5 13
frequency, and cumulative relative distributions of 119.5 – 124.5 7
the data. 124.5 – 129.5 1
d) What is the frequency for temperatures between 129.5 – 134.5 1
105 and 119? Class Limits Frequencies
e) What is the frequency for temperatures lower than 100–104 2
110? 105–109 8
f) What percent of temperatures are 115 or higher? 110 –114 18
g) What is the relative frequency of temperatures 115 – 119 13
lower than 115? 120 – 124 7
h) What is the cumulative relative frequency for 125 – 129 1
130 – 134 1
temperatures lower than 125?

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Problem – Temperatures in Orlando Problem – Temperatures in Orlando

• The average weekly temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) in Orlando, • The average weekly temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) in Orlando,
Florida over a 6-month span are given below. Florida over a 6-month span are given below.
• Round each observation to the nearest degree and then construct a • Round each observation to the nearest degree and then construct a
histogram of the frequency distribution 5 classes. histogram of the frequency distribution with 5 classes.
73.2 81.3 75.5 90.7 94.7 88.3 73 81 76 91 95 88
71.8 84.8 84.7 76.5 93.4 79.0 72 85 85 77 93 79
84.3 83.0 88.9 84.4 74.6 86.6 84 83 89 84 75 87
89.3 77.2 78.9 87.3 83.1 70.4 89 77 79 87 83 70

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Problem – Temperatures in Orlando

Problem – Ages of State Governors
• The average weekly temperatures in Orlando, Florida over a 6-month span are given below.
a) What is the frequency for temperatures between 75 and 84? • The grouped frequency distribution of the ages of the governors of the 50 states of the United
b) What is the frequency for temperatures lower than 85? States is shown.
c) What percent of temperatures are 80 or higher? a) Construct a histogram
d) What is the relative frequency of temperatures lower than 85? b) Construct frequency, relative frequency, cumulative frequency, and cumulative relative
e) What is the cumulative relative frequency for ages lower than 85?
distributions of the data
c) Comment on the shape of the distribution.

Class Boundaries Frequency

42.5–47.5 4
47.5–52.5 4
52.5–57.5 11
57.5–62.5 14
62.5–67.5 9
67.5–72.5 5
72.5–77.5 3

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Problem – Ages of State Governors Problem – Ages of State Governors

• The grouped frequency distribution of the ages of the Class Boundaries Frequency
42.5–47.5 4
governors of the 50 states of the United States is shown.
47.5–52.5 4
52.5–57.5 11
a) Construct a histogram.
57.5–62.5 14
b) Comment on the shape of the distribution.
62.5–67.5 9
c) Construct frequency, relative frequency, cumulative 67.5–72.5 5
frequency, and cumulative relative distributions of the 72.5–77.5 3
data.
d) What is the frequency for ages between 53 and 67? Class Limits Frequency
e) What is the frequency for ages lower than 68? 43 – 47 4
f) What percent of ages are 63 or higher? 48 – 52 4
g) What is the relative frequency of ages lower than 63? 53 – 57 11
h) What is the cumulative relative frequency for ages 58 – 62 14
lower than 68? 63 – 67 9
68 – 72 5
73 – 77 3

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Problem – Statistics Test Problem – Statistics Test

• Let’s suppose you received an 86 on your first exam in statistics. You are interested in how • Let’s suppose you received an 86 on your first exam in statistics. You are interested in how
well you did relative to the other students. well you did relative to the other students.
• How many other students received an 86? Were there many scores higher than yours? • How many other students received an 86? Were there many scores higher than yours? How
How many scores were lower? many scores were lower?
• Construct a histogram and comment on the shape of the distribution. • Construct a histogram and comment on the shape of the distribution.
• Construct frequency, relative frequency, cumulative frequency, and cumulative relative • Construct frequency, relative frequency, cumulative frequency, and cumulative relative
distributions of the data. distributions of the data.

Data in ascending order:

Scores from statistics exam (N = 70): 46
95 57 76 93 86 80 89 76 76 63 74 94 96 77 65 79 60 56 72 82 70 67 79 52 54 56 56 57 58
71 77 52 76 68 72 88 84 70 83 93 76 82 96 87 69 89 77 81 87 65 77 72 60 62 63 63 65 65 66 67 67 68 69
56 78 78 58 54 82 82 66 73 79 86 81 63 46 62 99 93 82 92 75 76 90 74 67 70 70 71 72 72 72 73 74 74 75 76 76 76 76 76 76 77 77 77 77 78 78 79 79 79
80 81 81 82 82 82 82 82 83 84 86 86 87 87 88 89 89
90 92 93 93 93 94 95 96 96 99

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Problem – Statistics Test

Stem-and-Leaf Plots
• A stem-and-leaf plot is another way to represent quantitative data graphically.
Stem-and-leaf plots have some advantages over histograms.
• Construction of a Stem-and-Leaf Plot
• Step 1: The stem of the graph will consist of the digits to the left of the right-
most digit. The leaf of the graph will be the rightmost digit.
• Step 2: Write the stems in a vertical column in increasing order. Draw a vertical
line to the right of the stems.
• Step 3: Write each leaf corresponding to the stems to the right of the vertical
line.
Step 4: Write the leaves in ascending order.

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Problem – Algebra Exam Histograms vs. Stem-and-Leaf Plots

Scores from algebra exam (N = 45):

50 52 55 58 59
60 61 62 63 66 66 68 69
70 71 72 73 75 76 76 76 78 78 79 79
80 81 82 83 85 86 86 87 88 88 88 89 89
90 92 93 94 97 99 99

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Histograms vs. Stem-and-Leaf Plots Problem – Ages of Declaration of Independence Signers

• The ages of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are shown.
• Construct a grouped frequency distribution and a cumulative frequency distribution for the
data, using 7 classes.
• Construct a histogram of the frequency distribution.
• Construct a stem-and leaf plot.
• Describe the shape of the distribution.

Raw Data Data in Ascending Order

41 54 47 40 39 35 50 37 49 42 70 32 27 27 30 31 32 33 33 34 34 34 35 35
44 52 39 50 40 30 34 69 39 45 33 42 35 36 37 38 39 39 39 40 40 41 42 42
44 63 60 27 42 34 50 42 52 38 36 45 42 42 43 44 44 45 45 45 46 46 46 47
35 43 48 46 31 27 55 63 46 33 60 62 48 49 50 50 50 50 50 52 52 53 54 55
35 46 45 34 53 50 50 60 60 62 63 63 69 70

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Problem – Statistics Exam Dotplots

• Scores from statistics exam (N = 70) are shown:
• One more graph! Another type of graphical display for various types of data is the
• Construct a stem-and leaf plot.
• Describe the shape of the distribution. dotplot. Dotplots are particularly useful for showing the relative positions of the
data in a data set or for comparing two or more data sets.
• When data are grouped using single- value grouping, a dotplot and a frequency
46 52 54 56 56 57 58 60 62 63
histogram are essentially identical.
63 65 65 66 67 67 68 69 70 70
71 72 72 72 73 74 74 75 76 76 • To construct a dotplot:
76 76 76 76 77 77 77 77 78 78 • Step 1: Draw a horizontal axis that displays the possible values of the
79 79 79 80 81 81 82 82 82 82 quantitative data.
82 83 84 86 86 87 87 88 89 89 • Step 2: Record each observation by placing a dot over the appropriate value
on the horizontal axis.
90 92 93 93 93 94 95 96 96 99 • Step 3: Label the horizontal axis with the name of the variable.

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Problem – Dotplots (Algebra Exam)

Histograms, Stem-and-Leaf Diagrams, & Dotplots
Algebra Exam (N = 45)
Scores from algebra exam (N = 45):

50 52 55 58 59
60 61 62 63 66 66 68 69
70 71 72 73 75 76 76 76 78 78 79 79
80 81 82 83 85 86 86 87 88 88 88 89 89
90 92 93 94 97 99 99

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Problem – Scores in the Winning Teams Problem – Temperatures in Orlando

• The data show the scores of the winning teams in the Rose Bowl.
• Construct a grouped frequency distribution and a cumulative frequency • The average weekly temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) in Orlando,
distribution for the data using a class width of 7. Florida over a 6-month span are given below. Round each observation
• Construct a histogram of the frequency distribution to the nearest degree and then construct a histogram of the frequency
• Construct a stem-and leaf diagram distribution with 5 classes.
• Construct a dotplot • Construct a stem-and leaf diagram
• Describe the shape of the distribution.
• Construct a dotplot
• Describe the shape of the distribution.
Raw Data: Data in Ascending Order
24 20 45 21 26 38 49 32 41 38 14 17 17 17 17 18 20 20 20 20 73 81 76 91 95 88
28 34 37 34 17 38 21 20 41 38 21 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 26 72 85 85 77 93 79
21 38 34 46 17 22 20 22 45 20 27 28 28 32 34 34 34 37 38 38 84 83 89 84 75 87
45 24 28 23 17 17 27 14 23 18 38 38 38 41 41 45 45 45 46 49
89 77 79 87 83 70

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