Math 11

CAPTULO 6B
THE MEDIAN, QUARTILES AND INTERQUARTILE RANGE
You can obtain important statistical measures from a cumulative frequency graph. These
are useful when you want to compare two or more data sets.

The median is the middle value of the distribution, is at

frequency axis.

1
n 1 on the cumulative
2

1
n 1 on the cumulative frequency axis.
4
3
The upper quartile (UQ) is at n 1 on the cumulative frequency axis.
4
The interquartile range (IQR) gives an improved measure of the spread of the data
and is given by Interquartile range = upper quartile = lower quartile
n is the total frequency.

The lower quartile (LQ) is at

The IQR is a measure of spread of the middle 50% of the data, so it excludes extreme
values.
EXAMPLE 1
The following grouped frequency distribution shows the time taken for students to solve a
puzzle. Using this data, draw a cumulative frequency diagram.

Use the cumulative frequency graph to find an estimate for

(a) the median
(b) the lower quartile
(c) the upper quartile
(d) the interquartile range.
Solution

(a) The median = 13 seconds.

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Profesor: Javier Trigoso T.

Math 11

1
32 1 8.25
4
LQ = 9.5 seconds

(b) Total = 32,

3
32 1 24.75
4
UQ = 17.5 seconds
(d) IQR = 17.5 - 9.5 = 8 seconds

(c)

The cumulative graph can be divided up into other fractions, not just quarters.
Tenths are quite common and these are called deciles.
Percentiles divide the cumulative frequency into hundredths. The 70th percentile
70
will be at
n 1 on the cumulative frequency (cf) axis.
100
EXAMPLE 2

Use the cumulative frequency curve

to find an estimate for these.
(a) the 20th percentile
(b) the 90th percentile

Solution
(a) The 20th percentile will be at
20
32 1 6.6
100
Draw a horizontal line at 6.6 to the
curve and then a vertical line down
to the time axis.
20th percentile = 9 seconds
(b) The 90th percentile will be at
90
32 1 29.7
100
Repeat the process of (a) at 29.7
90th percentile = 23 seconds

EJERCIC IOS
01. The cumulative frequency graph for
the distances travelled to school by 50
students is shown below.

From the graph, estimate

(a) the median distance
(b) the lower quartile distance
(c) the upper quartile distance
(d) the inter-quartile range.

02. A survey was conducted to find the

amount of time students spent on
homework each week. The results are
shown in the cumulative frequency
graph.

From the graph, estimate

(a) the median time
(b) the lower quartile time
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Profesor: Javier Trigoso T.

Math 11

(c) the upper quartile time

(d) the IQR. Give your answers in hours
and minutes.
(e) Estimate what percentage of students
spent 5 hours or less on homework each
week.
03. The cumulative frequency
diagram shows the marks gained in
a geography exam.

Use the graph to find mark

estimates for
(a) the median
(b) LQ
(c) UQ
(d) IQR
(e) the 70th percentile.
04. A tyre company carried out a
survey to find how far cars travel
before they need new tyr es.
The results for 100 cars is
shown in the cumulative
frequenc y diagram.

(c) the upper quartile distance

travelled
(d) the interquartile range.
(e) what percentage of cars
travelled a distance of more than
30 000 kilometres before the tyres
needed to be changed?
05. During a busy day at a doctors
surgery the amount of waiting time
for patients was recorded as shown
in the table. The shortest waiting
time was 1 1/2 mins. and the
longest time was 9 1/2 mins.

(a) Construct a cumulative

frequency table.
(b) Draw a cumulative frequency
curve.
(c) Give an estimate of the median
waiting time.
(d) Find the 60th percentile.
06. The local sports centre
conducted a survey on the age
distribution of its 800 members and
the results are shown in the table.
The youngest person was 6 years
old and the oldest was 78.

Use the graph to estimate

(a) the median distance travelled
(b) the lower quartile distance
travelled
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Profesor: Javier Trigoso T.

Math 11

(a) Construct a cumulative

frequency table for this data.
(b) Draw a cumulative frequency
graph.
(c) Use the curve to estimate the
median age of the leisure centre
members.
(d) Find an estimate of the lower
and upper quartiles.
(e) Find the 95th percentile.
07. The table shows information
about the number of hours that 120
children used a computer last week

(a) Work out an estimate for the

mean number of hours that the
children used a computer. Give your
answer correct to two decimal
places.
(b) Complete the cumulative
frequency table.

08. The table shows information

about the heights of 40 bushes.

(a) Complete the cumulative

frequency table.

(b) Draw a cumulative frequency

graph for your table.
(c) Use the graph to find an estimate
for the median height of the bushes.

(c) Draw a cumulative frequency

graph for your table.
(d) Use your graph to find an
estimate for the number of children
who used a computer for less than 7
hours last week.

4
Profesor: Javier Trigoso T.