THE MODE

The mode, another measure of position, is referred to as the most frequently occurring value in a
given set of data. In a distribution, the element or measure which is repeated the most number of items is
the mode. When the highest frequency corresponds to two elements or two measures, the distribution is
said to be bimodal. When the distribution has more than two modes, it is said to be multimodal. It is also
possible that a mode may not exist at all.

MODE OF UNGROUPED DATA

The two main advantages of the mode are: it requires no calculation, just counting, and it can be
determined for qualitative as well as quantitative data.

Illustrative Examples

A. The sizes of 15 classes selected at random are:

40, 39, 42, 48, 45, 46, 42, 49, 43, 42, 41, 44, 38, 42, 47
The mode is 42 because it is the measure that occurs the most number of items.

B. The sizes of 15 families in a barangay chosen at random are as follows:

8, 7, 4, 6, 12, 6, 7, 6, 8, 10, 7, 8, 5, 3, 4
The modes are 6, 7 and 8. The distribution is multimodal.

MODE OF GROUPED DATA

In a grouped distribution, the class interval where the value with the highest frequency is the modal
class. The midpoint of the class interval is the mode.

Illustrative Examples

Consider the distribution of the weekly wages of the factory workers in Matina Garments
Factory.

Where is the highest frequency in the distribution located? What is the modal class in the
distribution?

Weekly Wages (in Pesos) No. of Workers

1, 380 – 1, 399 4
1, 360 – 1, 379 6
1, 340 – 1, 359 12
1, 320 – 1, 339 Modal Class 31
1, 300 – 1, 319 24
1, 280 – 1, 299 15
1, 260 – 1, 279 11
1, 240 – 1, 259 8

Can you easily tell what the modal weekly wage of the workers in the factory is?

1
 Remember
To find the mode of a grouped data, use the formula:

𝑑1
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐿 𝑚𝑜 + ( 𝑑1+ 𝑑2 ) 𝑖

Where 𝐿𝑚𝑜 – the exact lower limit of the modal class

𝑑1- the difference between the frequency of the modal class and that of the frequency below the modal class
𝑑2- the difference between the frequency of the modal class and that of the frequency above the modal class
i- the size of the class interval

Substituting the values, we have

𝑀𝑜 = 𝐿 𝑑1
𝑚𝑜
+( )𝑖
𝑑1+ 𝑑2
31−24
= 1319.5 + (
(31−24)+(31−12))20

7
= 1319.5 + (
7+19)20
7
= 1319.5 + (
)20
26
140
= 1319.5 + ( )
26

= 1319.5 + 5.38

= 1324.88
Thus, the modal weekly wage of the factory workers is approximately Php 1, 324.88.
TEST YOURSELF

What is the mode in the following distributions?

1. 12, 11, 10, 12, 13, 14, 9, 11, 10, 15, 13, 10
2. 30, 45, 50, 35, 65, 75, 50, 55, 60, 70
3. 51, 80, 68, 72, 88, 90, 51, 48, 77, 45, 81
4. 72, 75, 75, 75, 78, 80, 80, 83, 85, 88, 90, 80
5. 70, 72, 72, 72, 75, 80, 85, 85, 88, 80, 90
6. 70, 70, 73, 74, 76, 76, 80, 81, 85, 85, 88, 91

Determine the mode in each set of data below.

7. Number of male and female children in 12 families in a barangay taken at random:

Family A B C D E F G H I J K L
Male 3 5 1 3 4 5 4 3 1 0 4 2
Children
Female 2 1 4 5 1 3 4 0 4 4 2 5
Children

8. The scores of 15 students in English and Mathematics tests:

English 7 9 6 5 6 9 4 6 7 8 6 4 5 9 6
Math 6 4 3 5 6 8 7 6 5 5 4 8 7 5 6

9. The data below are the shoe sizes of 185 first year students:
Size 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7
No. of 13 30 20 45 18 41 18
Students

10. Determine the modal class and the modal value for the frequency distribution of ages of teachers
in a school in Quezon City:
Age Group Frequency
60 – 64 2
55 – 59 4
50 -54 6
45 – 49 12
40 – 44 15
35 – 39 16
30 – 34 12
25 – 29 7
20 – 24 4
11. Find the mode of the distribution below:
Scores Frequency
95 – 99 5
90 – 94 11
85 – 89 17
80 – 84 25
75 – 79 20
70 – 74 12
65 – 69 7
60 - 64 3