Arithmetic Mean of Continuous

Frequency Distribution
Arithmetic Mean for Continuous Distribution:
In case of a continuous frequency distribution, arithmetic mean may be computed
by applying any of the methods to calculate mean. The values of 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 are
taken as the mid-points or class-marks of the various classes.

Arithmetic Mean for Continuous Distribution:

Algorithm:
• Compute the mid-point of class intervals (𝑥).
• Multiply the mid points with the corresponding frequencies (𝑓𝑥 )
• Calculate the mean by any of the methods: Direct method, step deviation
or shortcut method.

Example: Calculate the arithmetic mean for the following frequency

distribution.
Class 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80

Frequency 2 3 8 14 8 3 2
a) 40
b) 42
c) 43
d) 45
Solution:
Class 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80

Frequency 2 3 8 14 8 3 2

𝑥𝑖 15 25 35 45 55 65 75

𝑓𝑖 𝑥𝑖 30 75 280 630 440 195 150

∑ 𝑓𝑖 𝑥𝑖 1800
Mean = ∑ 𝑓𝑖
= = 45
40
Combined Mean:
If we are given the two data sets and their sizes, then the combined AM of two
data sets can be obtained by the formula
𝑛1 ̅𝑥̅̅1̅+𝑛2 ̅𝑥̅̅2̅
𝑥
̅̅̅̅
12 = ,
𝑛1 +𝑛2
where ̅̅̅̅
𝑥12 is combined mean from data set 1 and 2, ̅̅̅ 𝑥1 is mean of first data, ̅̅̅
𝑥2 is
mean of second data.
𝑛1 and 𝑛2 are the size of data 1 and data 2, respectively.

Example: The mean of 100 items and 150 items are 50 and 40, respectively.
What is the combined mean of all 250 items?
a) 40
b) 42
c) 44
d) None of these
𝑥 𝑛 +𝑥 𝑛 100×50+150×40
Solution: 𝑥̅250 = 1 1 2 2 = = 44
𝑛1 +𝑛2 250

Example: The average marks obtained by the students in a class are 43. If the
average marks obtained by 25 boys are 40 and the average marks obtained by
the girl students are 48, then what is the number of girl students in the class?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 15
d) None of these
Solution: Let 𝑛1 and 𝑛2 be number of boys and girls, respectively
𝑥 𝑛 +𝑥 𝑛
𝑥̅12 = 1 1 2 2
𝑛1 +𝑛2
25×40+𝑛2 48
⇒43 =
25+𝑛2
⇒𝑛2 = 15
The number of girls are 15.