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Statistics · Statistics

Frequency Tables

You asked 20 classmates how many pets they have and wrote down a jumbled list: 1, 0, 2, 1, 1, 0, 3, 1, 2, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2. Which answer is the most common? What fraction of the class has no pets? Nobody can tell from a messy list. The first job in any statistics study is to sort and count, and that is exactly what a frequency table does.

Population, sample and individual

Before counting anything, we need to say who we are studying.

Asking everyone is often too slow or too expensive, so we ask a sample and use it to learn about the population.

A large oval labeled population contains many dots; four highlighted dots form the sample, and each dot is an individual. Population Each dot is an individual. The orange dots are the sample.
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The management of a school wants to know if the students like the new cafeteria menu. To avoid asking all 800 students, they have randomly chosen 25 students from each…

The management of a school wants to know if the students like the new cafeteria menu. To avoid asking all 800 students, they have randomly chosen 25 students from each grade level to survey them. Identify the following elements of the study:

  • Population: _____

  • Sample: _____

  • Individual: _____

Solve
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A middle school in Chicago wants to carry out a study on the leisure habits of its students. To do this, the $30$ students of 6th Grade C are asked about their favorite…

A middle school in Chicago wants to carry out a study on the leisure habits of its students. To do this, the $30$ students of 6th Grade C are asked about their favorite social network. Identify with reasoning the following elements of the statistical study:

  • Population.

  • Sample.

  • Individual.

  • Type of variable (Qualitative or Quantitative).

Population School in Chicago Sample 6th Grade C n = 30 Individual 1 student Variable Social network Qualitative
Solve

Types of variables

The thing we record about each individual is called a variable. There are two kinds.

Some problems use the word qualitative for categorical. It means the same thing.

Diagram splitting variables into categorical, such as favorite color, and quantitative, such as height in inches. Variable CategoricalQuantitative favorite colorbrand of sneakers height in inchesnumber of pets
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In a middle school in Dallas, a study is to be carried out to find out the favorite sport of 6th grade students. Classify the following statistical variables as…

In a middle school in Dallas, a study is to be carried out to find out the favorite sport of 6th grade students. Classify the following statistical variables as qualitative or quantitative:

  • The preferred sport (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis...).

  • The number of hours a week they practice sport.

  • The brand of sneakers they wear.

  • The height in inches of each student.

  • The number of medals or trophies they have at home.

QUALITATIVE Qualities or categories Favorite sport QUANTITATIVE Numerical quantities 30 20 10 Hours of sport
Solve

Tally marks and frequency tables

To build a table, list every possible value in order, then go through the data once, making a tally mark for each item. Draw four bars and cross them with a fifth, like IIII/, so the groups of five are easy to count.

If the data are categories (like "Apple" or "Banana"), the table works the same way. Just list each category once. When the categories have a natural order, like Fail, Pass, Good, keep that order.

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During recess, we asked a group of friends what their favorite fruit for a snack is. The results were: Apple, Banana, Pear, Apple, Apple, Pear, Banana, Apple, Pear,…

During recess, we asked a group of friends what their favorite fruit for a snack is. The results were:

Apple, Banana, Pear, Apple, Apple, Pear, Banana, Apple, Pear, Banana.

Create a frequency table in your notebook that includes a column for the Tally (using tally marks) and another for the Absolute Frequency ($f_i$).

Fruit Tally Frequency (fᵢ) Apple 4 Banana 3 Pear 3 Total 10
Solve
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In a video game store they have noted down the sales of a morning: Action: $12$ Adventure: $8$ Sports: $15$ Strategy: $5$ Calculate the value of $N$ (the total number of…

In a video game store they have noted down the sales of a morning:

  • Action: $12$

  • Adventure: $8$

  • Sports: $15$

  • Strategy: $5$

Calculate the value of $N$ (the total number of data) by adding the absolute frequencies of all the categories.

Solve
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Look at the following frequency table showing the Math exam grades of $20$ students: | Grade | $f_i$ | | :--- | :---: | | Fail | $3$ | | Pass | $5$ | | Good | $6$ | |…

Look at the following frequency table showing the Math exam grades of $20$ students:

Grade $f_i$
Fail $3$
Pass $5$
Good $6$
Very Good $4$
Excellent $2$

Answer the following questions:

  1. How many students got a "Good"?

  2. What is the most repeated grade (the most frequent)?

  3. How many students passed the exam (considering a pass is from Pass to Excellent)?

fᵢ Grade 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fail Pass Good V. Good Exc 3 5 6 4 2 Passes
Solve

Relative frequency and percent

"9 classmates have one pet" is hard to compare across classes of different sizes. "45% of the class" is not. That is the job of the relative frequency.

Why? $f_i$ is the part and $N$ is the whole, so $\frac{f_i}{N}$ is just "part out of whole". Multiplying by 100 turns it into "part out of 100", which is a percent.

Bar graph of the percent of classmates with 0, 1, 2 and 3 pets: 25%, 45%, 25% and 5%. 25%45%25%5% 0123 number of pets: the percents add up to 100%

Back to the start: 5 of the 20 classmates have no pets, so the fraction is $\frac{5}{20} = \frac{1}{4}$ (25%). The most common answer, the mode, is 1 pet.

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A survey has been carried out on the number of pets that 20 families have. The absolute frequency of families that have "2 pets" is $4$. Calculate the relative frequency…

A survey has been carried out on the number of pets that 20 families have. The absolute frequency of families that have "2 pets" is $4$. Calculate the relative frequency ($h_i$) of this value, expressing it as a fraction and as a decimal.

fᵢ = 4 N = 20 hᵢ = fᵢ N = 4 20 = ? Families with 2 pets Total families Relative frequency
Solve
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In a 6th grade class, $20\%$ of the students walk to school. If the relative frequency in the table is $0,25$ for those who come by bus, what percentage of students does…

In a 6th grade class, $20\%$ of the students walk to school. If the relative frequency in the table is $0,25$ for those who come by bus, what percentage of students does this last figure represent?

Solve
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Copy and complete the missing data in this frequency table about the eye color of a group of people. Remember that the sum of the relative frequencies must be $1$. | Eye…

Copy and complete the missing data in this frequency table about the eye color of a group of people. Remember that the sum of the relative frequencies must be $1$.

Eye color Absolute frequency ($f_i$) Relative frequency ($h_i$)
Brown $10$ $0,5$
Blue $6$ $0,3$
Green $4$ $?$
TOTAL ($N$) $?$ $1$
Solve

Cumulative frequency

Sometimes we want to know "how many have at most 2 pets?". For that we keep a running total.

Graph of cumulative frequency for the number of pets, rising from 5 to 14 to 19 to 20. 5141920 0123 number of pets F

To go backwards, subtract: $f_i = F_i - F_{i-1}$. The first frequency is just $f_1 = F_1$.

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A group of friends has noted down the number of times they have been to the movie theater in the last six months. The data obtained are:…

A group of friends has noted down the number of times they have been to the movie theater in the last six months. The data obtained are:

$2, 1, 0, 3, 2, 1, 1, 0, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 0, 2, 1, 2, 0, 1$.

Organize this data into a frequency table that includes: the value of the variable ($x_i$), the absolute frequency ($f_i$) and the cumulative absolute frequency ($F_i$).

Solve
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In a music class, the students have been asked how many instruments they know how to play. The results of the cumulative absolute frequency ($F_i$) are: $0$ instruments:…

In a music class, the students have been asked how many instruments they know how to play. The results of the cumulative absolute frequency ($F_i$) are:

  • $0$ instruments: $F_1 = 4$

  • $1$ instrument: $F_2 = 15$

  • $2$ instruments: $F_3 = 22$

  • $3$ instruments: $F_4 = 25$

Calculate the absolute frequency ($f_i$) for each value and determine how many students there are in total in the class. What percentage of students knows how to play exactly $2$ instruments?

Solve
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A streaming platform has analyzed the number of hours that 40 teenagers spend watching shows during the weekend. They have only provided us with the Cumulative Absolute…

A streaming platform has analyzed the number of hours that 40 teenagers spend watching shows during the weekend. They have only provided us with the Cumulative Absolute Frequencies column ($F_i$):

  • 1 hour: $F_1 = 6$

  • 2 hours: $F_2 = 15$

  • 3 hours: $h_3 = 0,25$ (Relative frequency, not cumulative)

  • 4 hours: $F_4 = 34$

  • 5 hours: $F_5 = 40$

From this data, obtain the complete frequency table, including the Absolute Frequency ($f_i$) of each value, the Cumulative Relative Frequency ($H_i$), and the Percentage ($\%$) of each one.

Solve

From percents to counts

Often a report only gives percents or relative frequencies, and you need the actual counts. Turn the formula around: since $h_i = \frac{f_i}{N}$, we get

$$f_i = h_i \times N$$
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A survey has been carried out on $40$ teenagers about their preferred sport to practice at the community sports center. Complete the missing values in the following…

A survey has been carried out on $40$ teenagers about their preferred sport to practice at the community sports center. Complete the missing values in the following frequency table knowing that the sample size is $N = 40$.

Sport Absolute freq. ($f_i$) Relative freq. ($h_i$) Percentage (%)
Basketball $12$ ? ?
Soccer ? $0,45$ ?
Tennis $6$ ? ?
Swimming ? ? $10\%$
Sport Absolute freq. fᵢ Relative freq. hᵢ Percentage % Basketball 12 ? ? Soccer ? 0,45 ? Tennis 6 ? ? Swimming ? ? 10% Total N = 40 1 100%
Solve
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A recycling center has analyzed the contents of a recycling bin. $45\%$ of the objects were plastic bottles, $30\%$ were soda cans, $15\%$ were milk cartons and the rest…

A recycling center has analyzed the contents of a recycling bin. $45\%$ of the objects were plastic bottles, $30\%$ were soda cans, $15\%$ were milk cartons and the rest were other metal containers. If a total of $200$ objects were analyzed, construct a frequency table showing the absolute frequency of each type of waste.

45% 30% 15% Rest Bottles Cans Cartons Others N = 200
Solve
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Over a week, a nutritionist has asked $50$ people to note down how many pieces of fruit they eat a day. The summarized data are: $20\%$ eat no pieces. $15$ people eat…

Over a week, a nutritionist has asked $50$ people to note down how many pieces of fruit they eat a day. The summarized data are:

  • $20\%$ eat no pieces.

  • $15$ people eat $1$ piece.

  • The relative frequency of those who eat $2$ pieces is $0,3$.

  • The rest eat $3$ pieces.

Construct the complete frequency table and answer: What number or numbers of pieces of fruit are the mode of this study?

xᵢ fᵢ hᵢ % 0 - - 20 1 15 - - 2 - 0.3 - 3 Rest - - Total N=50 1.0 100
Solve

Rebuilding a table from clues

Some problems give you only a few clues, and you rebuild the whole table.

A bar of 40 students split into other 4, bike 6, walk 10 and bus 20, where bus is double walk. 46w2w otherbikewalkbus total N = 40
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In a survey on the number of pets in 50 households in a neighborhood, the frequency table has been stained and several pieces of data have been lost. Your mission is to…

In a survey on the number of pets in 50 households in a neighborhood, the frequency table has been stained and several pieces of data have been lost. Your mission is to reconstruct the complete table using the remaining clues:

  1. The total of the sample is $N = 50$.

  2. The relative frequency of having 1 pet is exactly $0,32$.

  3. The number of households with 3 pets is double that of households with 4 pets.

  4. There is only one household with 5 pets.

  5. The percentage of households with no pets (0) is $12\%$.

Complete the table by calculating the Absolute Frequency ($f_i$), Relative Frequency ($h_i$), and the Percentage ($\%$) for each value.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Pets fᵢ hᵢ % 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total 12% 0,32 12 1 50 1,00 100% ×2
Solve
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A 6th grade math exam has grades from 1 to 10. The teacher gives us the following information about the results of the 30 students: 1. $20\%$ of the class got a 5. 2.…

A 6th grade math exam has grades from 1 to 10. The teacher gives us the following information about the results of the 30 students:

  1. $20\%$ of the class got a 5.

  2. The grades 1, 2, 3, and 10 have an absolute frequency of 0.

  3. There is the same number of students with a 6 as with a 7.

  4. The relative frequency of those who got a 9 is $0,1$.

  5. There are 4 students with a 4 and 3 students with an 8.

Find how many students got a 6 and a 7, and create the complete frequency table with all the studied columns ($f_i, F_i, h_i, H_i, \%$).

Solve
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In a quality control at a light bulb factory, 120 units are tested to see how many hours they last before failing (rounded to thousands of hours). The collected data…

In a quality control at a light bulb factory, 120 units are tested to see how many hours they last before failing (rounded to thousands of hours). The collected data are:

  • $35\%$ lasted 1,000h.

  • The absolute frequency of the 2,000h ones is 30.

  • The relative frequency of the 3,000h ones is $0,15$.

  • The rest of the light bulbs lasted 4,000h.

Organize this data into a frequency table that includes absolute frequencies, relative frequencies, percentages and cumulative frequencies. What percentage of light bulbs lasted 3,000 hours or more?

Solve

Clues with cumulative frequencies

When a clue is about a cumulative frequency, turn it into a count first. Since $H_i = \frac{F_i}{N}$, we get $F_i = H_i \times N$. Then subtract consecutive cumulative values to isolate one row: $f_i = F_i - F_{i-1}$.

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A study has been carried out on the daily fruit consumption in a sample of people. We know that: $H_2$ (Cumulative relative frequency of consuming 2 pieces) is $0,75$.…

A study has been carried out on the daily fruit consumption in a sample of people. We know that:

  • $H_2$ (Cumulative relative frequency of consuming 2 pieces) is $0,75$.

  • $f_1 = 12$

  • $f_0$ (0 pieces) is half of $f_1$.

  • The total of the sample is $N = 40$.

Calculate the absolute frequency of consuming 2 pieces ($f_2$) and complete the table for the values 0, 1, 2, and 3 (knowing that 3 is the maximum value of the study).

xᵢ fᵢ Fᵢ Hᵢ 0 f₀ 1 12 2 f₂ F₂ 0.75 3 Total N = 40 ÷ 2 H₂ = F₂/N
Solve
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A group of students is asked about the number of books read in the last year. We are not given the total number of students, but we know that: Absolute frequency of 1…

A group of students is asked about the number of books read in the last year. We are not given the total number of students, but we know that:

  • Absolute frequency of 1 book: $f_1 = 8$.

  • Relative frequency of 1 book: $h_1 = 0,16$.

  • Cumulative relative frequency up to 2 books: $H_2 = 0,5$.

  • Absolute frequency of 3 books: $f_3 = 15$.

  • The rest of the students read 4 books (every student read at least 1 book and no one read more than 4).

First, calculate the population size ($N$). Then, complete the frequency table and find out how many students read 4 books.

f₁ = 8 h₁ = 0.16 N = ? ÷ ÷ ×
Solve

Spotting errors in a table

When a table does not pass a check, find the row that breaks it.

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A study has been carried out on the number of siblings of the students at a school. The researcher has made some errors when calculating the relative frequencies. State…

A study has been carried out on the number of siblings of the students at a school. The researcher has made some errors when calculating the relative frequencies. State what they are and correct them so that the table is valid.

Hint: Check the total sum of the relative frequencies.

Siblings $f_i$ $h_i$ (calculated)
$0$ $15$ $0,30$
$1$ $20$ $0,45$
$2$ $10$ $0,20$
$3$ $5$ $0,15$
Solve
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The city council has recorded the number of occupants of the vehicles that entered the city center yesterday. Errors have been detected in the final report. Identify…

The city council has recorded the number of occupants of the vehicles that entered the city center yesterday. Errors have been detected in the final report. Identify which data are impossible or erroneous in the following table of 200 vehicles and correct it assuming that, in the "3 people" row, the incorrect value is the one in column $f_i$ (not those of $h_i$ or the percentage):

People ($x_i$) $f_i$ $h_i$ $\%$ $F_i$
1 90 0.45 $45\%$ 90
2 60 0.35 $30\%$ 150
3 45 0.20 $20\%$ 205
4 10 0.05 $5\%$ 200

Hint: Look at the sum of the frequencies and the consistency between columns.

Solve

Reading tables from graphs

A graph is a picture of a table, so you can go from a graph back to the table.

  • Bar graph: the height of each bar is the frequency $f_i$. Read each height, add them to get $N$, then compute $h_i$ and percents.

  • Pie chart (circle graph): the whole circle is $360^\circ$ and stands for all the data. A slice with angle $\theta$ has relative frequency

$$h_i = \dfrac{\theta}{360^\circ} \qquad\text{and}\qquad f_i = h_i \times N$$ Bar graph of free throws made out of 5 by 20 students: 0 made, 2 students; 1 made, 4; 2 made, 8; 3 made, 4; 4 made, 2. 02468 01234 free throws made Pie chart of favorite pizza toppings with angles 90 degrees for cheese, 180 for pepperoni, 54 for veggie and 36 for sausage. Cheese 90°Pepperoni 180° Veggie 54°Sausage 36°
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From the following bar chart representing the grades obtained by the students of a course on a retake exam, reconstruct the complete frequency table (…

From the following bar chart representing the grades obtained by the students of a course on a retake exam, reconstruct the complete frequency table ($x_i, f_i, h_i, \%$).

2 4 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 fᵢ Fail Pass Good Exc. xᵢ
Solve
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In an e-sports tournament, the number of victories of 80 participants is recorded. It is known that the pie chart representing this data has the following angles for…

In an e-sports tournament, the number of victories of 80 participants is recorded. It is known that the pie chart representing this data has the following angles for each category:

  • 0 victories: $72^\circ$

  • 1 victory: $108^\circ$

  • 2 victories: $144^\circ$

  • 3 victories: The rest of the circle.

Construct the complete frequency table ($f_i$, $h_i$, $\%$) knowing that the total number of individuals is $N = 80$. How many players achieved the maximum number of victories?

72º 108º 144º ?º N = 80 0 victories 1 victory 2 victories 3 victories fᵢ = N · α / 360º
Solve

Summary

See all the exercises in this section