Overview

1) What is a Histogram?
2) What are some possible uses
for a Histogram?
3) Where did the Histogram come
from?
4) How do Histograms work?
5) A real world example.
6) An exercise.
 What is a Histogram?

• A Histogram is a variation of a
bar chart in which data values
are grouped together and put
into different classes.

• This grouping allows you see

how frequently data in each
class occur in the data set.
 What is a Histogram (cont.)

• Higher bars represent more data

values in a class.
• Lower bars represent fewer data
values in a class.
• On the next slide is an example
of what a Histogram looks like.
Example of a Histogram
 Uses for a Histogram

A Histogram can be used:

• to display large amounts of data values in
a relatively simple chart form.
• to tell relative frequency of occurrence.
• to easily see the distribution of the data.
• to see if there is variation in the data.
• to make future predictions based on the
data.
 Where did the Histogram
Come From?

• The Histogram was first

implemented by Kaoru Isikawa,
one of Japans’ most renowned
experts on quality improvement.

• Isikawa spent his life trying to

improve quality in Japan.
 Where did the Histogram
Come From? (cont.)
• His major contributions to
quality improvement are known
as the basic seven tools of
quality.

• Included in his basic seven tools

of quality is the Histogram.
 How do Histograms Work?

• First, you need need to pick a

process to analyze.
• Next, you need a large amount of
data, at least 100 data values so that
patterns can become visible.
• Then, you need to assemble a table
of the data values that you collected
with regards to frequency of data
values.
 How do Histograms Work?
(cont)
• Next, you need to calculate some
statistics for the Histogram, including:
mean, minimum, maximum, standard
deviation, class width, number of
classes, skewness, and kurtosis.

• Then, you actually create the

Histogram using these statistics.
 How do Histograms Work?
(cont)

• After you have created a

Histogram, it will take one of
five shapes:

• Normal Distribution:
 How do Histograms Work?
(cont)

• Positively Skewed:

• Negatively Skewed:
 How do Histograms Work?
(cont)

• Bi-Modal Distribution:

• Multi-Modal Distribution:
 How do Histograms Work?
(cont)
• Once your Histogram is
complete, you can analyze its
shape, as well as the statistics
that you came up with.

• This analysis will help you to

make better decisions toward
quality improvements.
 Real World Example
• The next slide contains a real world
example of a histogram. It plots the
relative frequency of the heights of
some students based on the data
below.
                             Frequency:
Height (feet):          (Number of pupils)     Relative frequency:
0-2                        0                                0
2-4                        1                                1
4-5                        4                                8
5-6                        8                                16
6-8                        2                                2
 Real World Example

• This Histogram is courtesy of http://www.gcsemaths.fsnet.co.uk/page5.html

 Exercise
• A great exercise which would help
you better understand what a
histogram is all about can be found
at :
http://www.usfca.edu/histogram_explorer/he.html

Here you are walked through the

making of a histogram. You see all
of the aspects that I have discussed
in this tutorial.
 Summary

• After going through this tutorial

you should have a better idea
of:
1) What a Histogram is.
2) What a Histogram is used for.
3) Where the Histogram came
from.
4) How Histograms work.