Step Deviation Method

 To find mean,

x = a + h ∑fiui/∑fi

Where ui = xi – a / h
[ a is the assumed mean and h is the class size.]
Example
 Q] The distribution below shows the number of
wickets taken by bowlers in one-day cricket
matches. Find the mean number of wickets by
choosing a suitable method. What does the mean
signify?
Number of 20-60 60-100 100-150 150-250 250-350 350-450
Wickets

Number of 7 5 16 12 2 3
Matches
Answer
Number of Number xi di = xi-20 ui = di/20 uifi
Wickets of bowlers
taken
20-60 7 40 -160 -8 -56

60-100 5 80 -120 -6 -30

100-150 16 125 -75 -3.75 -60

150-250 12 200 0 0 0

250-350 2 300 100 5 10

350-450 3 400 200 10 30

Total 45 -106
So u = -106/45.
Therefore, x = 200 + 20 (-106/45)
= 200 – 47.11
= 152.89

This tells us that, on an average the number of

wickets taken by these 45 bowlers in one-day cricket
is 152.89.