Find the median for the following frequency distribution:
Class | 4-8 | 8-12 | 12-16 | 16-20 | 20-24 | 24-28 |
Frequency | 9 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 1 |
Here, we have grouped data given in the table. We need to find cumulative frequency of the data, which will predict our answer.
So,
CLASS | FREQUENCY (f) | CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY (cf) |
4 – 8 | 9 | 9 |
8 – 12 | 16 | 9 + 16 = 25 |
12 – 16 | 12 | 25 + 12 = 37 ← |
16 – 20 | 7 | 37 + 7 = 44 |
20 – 24 | 15 | 44 + 15 = 59 |
24 – 28 | 1 | 59 + 1 = 60 |
TOTAL | ∑f = n = 60 |
We have added up all the values of the frequency in the second column and have got,
Total = n = 60
Now, we just need to find the value of n/2. So,
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Now, look up for a value in the cumulative frequency just greater than 30.
We have, 37.
Corresponding to this value of cumulative frequency, we can say that median class is 12 – 16.
That is,
Median class = 12 – 16
∴ we have almost everything we require to calculate median.
Median is given by,

Where,
l = lower limit of the median class = 12
n = Total number of observation (sum of frequencies) = 60
cf = cumulative frequency of the class preceding the median class = 25
f = frequency of the median class = 12
c = class size (class sizes are equal) = 4
Putting the values, l = 12, n/2 = 30, cf = 25, f = 12 and c = 4 in the given formula of median, we get
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⇒ Median = 12 + 1.67
⇒ Median = 13.67
Thus, the median of the data is 13.67.
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Generated by AI. May contain inaccuracies — always verify with your textbook.

