Relative frequency

Relative frequency is used when probability is being estimated using the recorded data
of an event or when theoretical probability cannot be used.
Using relative frequencies to estimate probabilities
▪ In many situations (eg: weather prediction), we must consider data related to the event
in order to predict probabilities.
▪ Data my come from an experiment or simulation or, it may come from historical records.
▪ Using data to predict probability is called experimental probability.
▪ A sufficient number of trials must be conducted, and the collected data organised into a
frequency distribution table which includes a relative frequency (r.f.) column.
▪ The long-run proportion is the experimental probability for a sufficiently large number
of trials.
▪ Relative frequency is expressed using fractions, decimals or percentages.
Frequency of an event
Relative Frequency =
Total number of frequencies

▪ The expected number of occurrences = probability × number of trials.

Examples
1. Two coins were tossed and the number
of tails recorded in frequency table (b) i. P ( noTails ) = 24%
shown opposite.
(a) Complete the relative frequency 24% 48
200
100% ii. P ( one Tail ) = 53%
column as percentages. 106
100%
53% 200
(b) Find the probability of obtaining 46
23% 100%
the following number of Tails: 200

i. 0 ii. 1  f = 200
2. A box contains an unknown number of coloured balls. A ball is drawn from the box and then
replaced. The procedure is repeated 100 times and the colour of the ball drawn is recorded each
time. Twenty-five red balls were recorded.
(a) Find the experimental probability of randomly choosing a red ball.
(b) Find the expected number of red balls drawn if the procedure was repeated 500 times.

(a) P ( red ball ) = 25 (b) Expected number of red balls in 500 = 1  500
100 4
=1 = 125 red balls
4
Mean, median and mode
Statisticians use either the mean, median or mode to try and describe
a data set with one central or typical score.
Mean (x ), median and mode
▪ Statistics involves collecting, organising and analysing data (made up of scores x ).
▪ Once data has been analysed statisticians can make predictions and conclusions.
▪ Statisticians use summary statistics, (often called measures of location or measures of central
tendency ), to highlight important aspects of a data set. These are summarised below:
• the mode: is the most frequent score or scores. If two modes, the data is said to be bimodal .
• the median: is the middle score when scores are placed in order. If two middle scores we find
the average of the two middle scores.
• the mean (x ): is the ‘common average’ (though all above are averages) is found using,
sum of all scores
x= The mean can be thought of as ‘mathematical sharing’.
number of scores
• An outlier is a score which is significantly greater than or less than the main cluster of scores.
• Outlier scores can significantly distort the mean, in which case it may be ignored, or another
measure used (e.g.: median or mode).
• The determination of a score as an outlier will be considered in future courses.
Examples
1. For the given data sets, find:
i. the mean ii. the median iii. the mode
(a) 5 2 4 10 6 1 2 9 6 (b) 17 13 26 15 9 10
1 2 2 4 5 6 6 9 10 9 10 13 15 17 26

1 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 9 + 10 9 + 10 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 26
i. x = i. x =
9 6
45 90
= =
9 6
=5 = 15

ii. median = 5 13 + 15
ii. median =
2
iii. mode = 2 & 6 = 14

iii. No mode
2. The hours a shop assistant spends cleaning the store in eight successive weeks are:
8, 9, 12, 10, 10, 8, 5, 10.
(a) Calculate the mean for this set of data.
(b) How many hours would the shop assistant need to clean in the ninth week
for the mean to equal 10?

Note: Data does not require ordering if only finding the mean.

8 + 9 + 12 + 10 + 10 + 8 + 5 + 10 (b) Let, hours worked in the 9th week = w

(a) x =
8
72 72 + w
= 10 =
8 9
=9 72 + w = 90
w = 18
 Shop assistant must work 18 hours in the 9th week.