Quantitative classification

• The characteristics that differ from one

biological entity to other are called variable.
• The number of leaves counted in a group of
plants and the height measured in individuals
are various characteristics.
• Variable refers to the characteristic that may
take different values at different place, time
and situation. It varies in amount and
magnitude in a frequency distribution.
• A variable can be qualitative or quantitative.
• When two possibilities exist, measurement is
binary.
• Gender distinguished as male or female,
Recovery or non-recovery from disease.
• Data is categorized on the basis of characteristic
studied.
• When the value of variable is finite and cannot
assume fractional value and decimals the variable is
discrete.
• On the other hand a continuous variable can
manifest every possible fractional value.
• Ex. Height and weight of persons.
• The series of data obtained for a discrete variable is
a discrete frequency distribution obtained based on
counts and
• the series obtained for a continuous variable is a
continuous frequency distribution obtained by
measurement.
Discrete frequency distribution
No. of children in a No. of
family families
0 50
1 150
2 100
3 40
4 25
5 20
6 10
Continuous frequency distribution
Height in cms No of persons
100-110 25

110-120 36
120-130 55
130-140 70
140-150 84
150-160 90
160-170 60
• The number of observations in each class is
frequency.
• A frequency distribution is a table in which
data is grouped into classes and the number in
each class is recorded.
• If the numbers of items are expressed by
proportion in each class, the distribution is a
relative frequency distribution or percentage
distribution.
 Continuous frequency distribution

• The following terms are to be understood

when a continuous frequency distribution is
formed
• or when data classification is done according
to class intervals.
 Class limits
• The lowest and the highest value included in each
class constitute the class limit.
• If the weight is recorded as 4.0 to 4.2, the lowest
value is 4 and the highest 4.2.
• The two boundaries are known as the upper and
the lower limit.
• The lower limit is the value below which there can
be no observation in the particular class
• and the upper limit is the value above which there
can be any observation.
 Class intervals
• It is the difference between the upper and the lower
limit in the class.
• If the class is 50 to 100, the class interval is 50.
• The width of the class interval is important when a
continuous frequency distribution is made.
• It depends on the following factors.
• 1. Range in the data ( difference between largest and
smallest item)
• 2. Details required
• 3. Number of classes
• 4. Ease of classification for further statistical
calculations
• 5. Number of observations
• The formula to be used for obtaining class interval ,
i is
• i = L –S/k
• L refers to largest value and S the smallest value
and K the number of classes.
• If the maximum weight of chick is 5.0 and the
minimum is 3.5 and if the number of observations is
100, and if 10 classes are to be formed,
i = 5 – 3.5/10 = 0.15
• The starting class would be 3.5 to 3.65
• next 3.65 to 8 and so on.
• How to fix the number of classes ?
• The number of classes can be fixed arbitrarily keeping
the nature of problem or based on Sturge’s rule.
• The number of classes is decided based on using the
formula
• K = 1 + 3.322 log N
• N = total number of observations
• Log N = logarithms of number
• If 10 observations are made , the number of classes will
be
• K = 1 +3.322 log 10 = 1+3.222x1 = 4.322 or 4
• If 100 observations are made, the number of classes
will be
• K = 1+3.322 log 100 = 1+3.322 x2 = 7.644 or 8
• The number of classes shall be between 4 to 20 .
• It cannot be less than 4 even if number of
observations is less than 10 and if N is 10 lakh,
• k will be 1+3.322 x6 = 20.932.
• To determine the magnitude of class interval, the
following formula is used.
• i = Range/ 1+3.322 log N
• where range is the difference between the large
and small value. In the above example taken,
• i = 5 – 3.5/1 + 3.322 x 2 = 1.5 / 7.644 = 0.196 or 0.2
• If we take a class interval of 0.2, the number of
classes formed would be 1.5/0.2 = 7.5 or 8
• The application of the above formula may give a
value involving fractions which has to be
approximated.