LESSON 4 MODE OF GROUPED DATA

In this lesson, we will discuss the formula that approximates the mode of a given distribution. As you
learned in lesson 1, a distribution may have more than one mode, or it may not have a mode at all. However,
for the purposes of this discussion, we will make one assumption: a distribution has one reasonable value of
mode.
Since we are dealing with grouped data. It is impossible to determine the actual value(s) of mode
provided that there is any. The best that we can do is to find a reasonable value of a mode might be. The
following formula shall be used in finding that mode.

MEDIAN OF GROUPED DATA

The median of grouped data can be calculated using the formula:

d1
^x =LBmo +( )(c)
d1 + d2

Where:
LB mo is the lower boundary of the modal class.
d 1 difference between the frequency of the modal class and the frequency of the class before
the modal class.
d 2 difference between the frequency of the modal class and the frequency of the class after the
modal class.
c is the class width

Comment:

 The proper use of the formula depends on the identification of the modal class. Just like the
computation of the median, we first identified the median class.
 In computing the mode, we will first identify the modal class.

MODAL CLASS
The modal class of a distribution is the class interval with the highest frequency.

Comments:

 As much as possible to have more than one mode, just like what we tackled in Lesson 1, it is also
possible to have more than one class intervals that contain the highest frequency.
 To avoid having “more than one modal class”, modification of table is needed. One possible
modification is combining class intervals until we obtain exactly one class intervals with the highest
frequency.
 For the purposes of this discussion, we will only cover example with exactly modal class.

EXAMPLE 1
Consider the following frequency distribution.

Frequency Distribution of the NCEE Scores of First Year College Students of ABC College

Scores Number of Students

43 – 49 9
50 – 56 13
57 – 63 15
64 – 70 25
71 – 77 16
78 – 84 10
85 – 91 8
92 – 98 4
n=100
Determine the mode class of the distribution above.
Solution:
First, we will identify the modal class of the distribution. It is easy to see that the class interval 64 – 70 has the
highest frequency. Therefore, it is the modal class.

Class Intervals Frequency

43 – 49 9
50 – 56 13
This is the modal class
57 – 63 15
since it has the highest
frequency 64 – 70 25
71 – 77 16
78 – 84 10
85 – 91 8
92 – 98 4
Furthermore, the lower boundary of the modal class 64 – 70 is 63.5. Thus, LB Mo=63.5.

To identify the d 1, we need to look at the class interval before the modal class.

Class Intervals Frequency

43 – 49 9
This is the class BEFORE 50 – 56 13
the modal class.
57 – 63 15
Their difference
64 – 70 25 is the value of d 1
This is the modal class. 71 – 77 16
78 – 84 10
85 – 91 8
92 – 98 4
Thus, d 1=25−15=10. Moreover, to get the value of d 2, we need to look at the class interval after the
modal class.

Class Intervals Frequency

43 – 49 9
50 – 56 13

This is the modal class. 57 – 63 15

64 – 70 25
Their difference
71 – 77 16 is the value of d 2
This is the class AFTER
78 – 84 10
the modal class.
85 – 91 8
92 – 98 4
Hence, d 2=25−16=9. Lastly, the class width is 7. So c=7 . Substituting the relevant values to the formula, we
have:
d1
^x =LBmo +( )(c)
d1 + d 2
^x =63.5+ (10
10+9 )
( 7 ) =67.18

Thus, the modal score of the student can be reasonably approximated to be 67.18.
 EXAMPLE 2
Consider the following frequency distribution.

Frequency Distribution table of Height of Teachers in ABC College

Height (in cm) Number of Teachers

140 – 144 2
145 – 149 17
150 – 154 14
155 – 159 21
160 – 164 11
165 – 169 8
170 – 174 5
175 – 179 2
n=80
Determine the mode class of the distribution above.
Solution:
The first thing to do here is the identify the modal class. Since 155 – 159 has the highest frequency of,
it is the modal class.

Height (in cm) Number of Teachers

140 – 144 2
145 – 149 17
This is the modal class
150 – 154 14
since it has the highest
frequency 155 – 159 21
160 – 164 11
165 – 169 8
170 – 174 5
175 – 179 2
Since the lower boundary 155 – 159 is 154.5, we have LB Mo=154.5. We also know that the class width is 5.
Hence, c=5

To identify the value of d 1∧d2 , we need to look at the class interval before and after the modal class.

Height (in cm) Number of Teachers

140 – 144 2
This is the class BEFORE 145 – 149 17
the modal class.
150 – 154 14
d1
This is the modal class. 155 – 159 21
d2
160 – 164 11
This is the class AFTER 165 – 169 8
the modal class. 170 – 174 5
175 – 179 2

Thus, d 1=21−14=7 and d 2=21−11=10 . Substituting these values to the formula, we have:

d1
^x =LBmo +( )(c)
d1 + d2
^x =154.5+ ( 7 +10
7
) ( 5)=156.56
Thus, the modal score of the student can be reasonably approximated to be 156.56 cm
 Republic of the Philippines
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
LABORATORY SCHOOL
Lucban, Quezon

Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________________

Grade & Section: _______________________ Score: ______________________

“MODE OF GROUPED DATA”

1. Is it possible for the actual mode of the distribution to be found outside the modal class? If yes,
provide specific example, If no, example why not.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

DO IT YOURSELF
Compute for the mode of the following set of grouped data.
1. Frequency Distribution Table of Ages of Qualified voters of Brgy, XYZ.
Ages Number of Voters
18 – 23 16
24 – 29 25
30 – 35 39
36 – 41 46
42 – 47 30
48 – 53 20
54 – 59 15
60 – 65 8
66 – 71 7
72 – 77 4

2. Examination Results of 60 Students in a Spanish Class

Scores Number of Students
10 – 19 2
20 – 29 7
30 – 39 23
40 – 49 11
50 – 59 8
60 – 69 6
70 – 79 2
80 – 89 1

3. Monthly Income (in peso) of 200 selected employees of QAZ Enterprise.

Monthly Income (in Peso Number of Employees
3500 – 4999 6
5000 – 6499 23
6500 – 7999 36
8000 – 9499 40
9500 – 10999 59
11000 – 12499 20
12500 – 13999 8
14000 – 15499 6
15500 – 16999 2