HISTOGRAMS

Representing Data

OCR Module 9
Why use a Histogram
 When there is a lot of data
 When data is
 Continuous
 a mass, height, volume, time etc
 Presented in a Grouped Frequency Distribution
 usually in groups or classes that are UNEQUAL
NO GAPS between Bars

Continuous data
Bars are different in width

Determined by Grouped
Frequency Distribution
So we use FREQUENCY DENSITY = Frequency
Class width

AREA is proportional to FREQUENCY

NOT height, because of

UNEQUAL classes!
Grouped Frequency Distribution

Classes

Speed, kph 0< v ≤40 40< v ≤50 50< v ≤60 60< v ≤90 90< v ≤110

Frequency 80 15 25 90 30
Drawing
 Sensible Scales
 Bases correctly aligned
 Plot the Class Boundaries
 Heights correct
 Frequency Density
Frequency Densities

Speed, kph 0< v ≤40 40< v ≤50 50< v ≤60 60< v ≤90 90< v ≤110
Class width 40 10 10 30 20

Frequency 80 15 25 90 30

Frequency
2.0 1.5 2.5 3.0 1.5
Density
Freq Dens Frequency = Width x Height

Frequency = 40 x 2.0 = 80
3.0

2.0

1.0

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Speed (kph)