Skewness

Skewness represents the opposite of symmetry or lack of symmetry. Measure of

skewness shows the extent of skewness.

A frequency distribution is said to be symmetrical when there are no extreme

values in a particular direction, in this case Mean = Meadian = Mode, and the value
of skewness is zero. If the longer tail of the frequency curve is towards the left
hand side then the skewness is negative and distribution is said to be negatively
skewed. If the longer tail of the frequency curve is towards the right hand side then
the skewness is positive and distribution is said to be positively skewed
distribution.

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Methods of measuring skewness –

There are basically three methods of measuring the skewness

i. Karl Parson Skewness

ii. Bowley’s Skewness
iii. Kelly’s Skewness

Karl Pearson’s Skewness –

Karl Pearson’s coefficient of skewness is given by

Mean  Mode
SK P

Standard Deviation

OR
3( Mean  Median )
SK p 


Bowley Skewness –

Bowley’s coefficient of skewness is given by

Q  Q  2Median
SK B  3 1

Q Q 3 1

Example-

Calculate the Karl Pearson’s coefficient of skewness from the following data:

Class
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80
Interval

Frequency 10 40 20 0 10 40 16 14

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 Solution-

Class Mid values X  35

f d fd fd2 C.F.
Interval X 10

0-10 10 5 -3 -30 90 10

10-20 40 15 -2 -80 160 50

20-30 20 25 -1 -20 20 70

30-40 0 35=A 0 0 0 70

40-50 10 45 1 10 10 80

50-60 40 55 2 80 160 120

60-70 16 65 3 48 144 136

70-80 14 75 4 56 224 150

8 8 8
N   f i 150 fd i i 64 fd i i
2
808
i 1 i 1 i 1

n 8
1 1 1
Mean  A  h 
N

i 1
f i d i A  h 
N
fd
i 1
i i 35  10 
150
 64  35  4.27  39.27

N 150 th
Median = Size of th term = Size of  75 term
2 2

The median class in the above series is (40-50)

h N 10 150
Median  L  (  C )  40  (  70)  45
f 2 10 2

2
8
 8 
 f i d i2   fi di  2
  10 808   64   22.8
 h i 1
  i 1
N  N  150  150 
 
 

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 3( Mean  Median ) 3(39.27  45)
SK p    0.754
 22.8

Since SK p < 0  distribution is negatively skewed.

Example-

Find the Bowley’s coefficient of skewness for the following frequency distribution

Class 0-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-75 75-90 90-105

Intervals

Frequency 20 30 30 35 45 15 5

Solution-

Class Intervals Frequency cf

0-15 20 20

15-30 30 50

30-45 30 80

45-60 35 115

60-75 45 160

75-90 15 175

90-105 5 180

N = 180

N 180
  90
2 2

N 180
  45
4 4

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 3 N 3  180
  135
4 4

The cumulative frequency just greater than N/2 i.e., 90 is 115. Hence the
corresponding class (45-60) is the median class.

hN  15 10
  C   45  90  80  45 
15
M l  45  4.29  49.29
d
f2  35 35

The cumulative frequency just greater than N/4 i.e., 45 is 50. Hence the
corresponding class (15-30) is the first quartile class.

hN  15  25
  C   15  45  20  15 
15
Q l
1 f4  30 30
 15  12.5  27.5

The cumulative frequency just greater than 3N/4 i.e., 135 is 160. Hence the
corresponding class (60-75) is the third quartile class.

h  3N 
Q l   C   60 
15
135  115  60  20  60  6.67  66.67
3 f  4  45 3
Hence Bowley’s coefficient based on quartiles is given by:

Q Q  2M 66.67  27.50  2  49.29 94.17  98.58 4.41

     0.1126
3 1 d
S KB
Q Q 66.67  27.50 39.17 39.17
3 1

Kurtosis
It measures the flatness of the curve, it tells whether a given distribution is more
peaked than a normal curve or less peaked than a normal curve. If a curve is
peaked like a normal curve it is called Mesokurtic, if a curve of a distribution is
more peaked than a normal curve it is called Leptokurtic or if the curve is less
peaked than the normal curve then it is called Platykurtic

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 
  4


2 2

If the value of  2
 3 then the frequency curve is considered as Mesokurtic.

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If the value of  2
 3 then the frequency curve is considered as
Leptokurtic.

If the value of  2
 3 then the frequency curve is considered as Platykurtic

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