Cumulative Frequency 19/04/2024

Learning Objectives:

• Able to calculate cumulative frequency

• Able to draw a cumulative frequency

curve

• Able to estimate median and

• Inter-quartile range
 Cumulative Frequency Curves
• A cumulative frequency curve illustrates the
trend of the data

• It can be used to estimate the median and

quartiles.
 Cumulative Frequency Curves
1. Calculate the cumulative frequency – this is
the ‘running total’; the sum of all the
frequencies up to and including that value

2. Plot the upper bound against the cumulative

frequency

3. Join up the points with a smooth curve

 Cumulative Frequency Curves
• The weights of dogs coming into a vets is
shown below. Calculate an estimate for the
median and quartiles.
Weight, w (kg) Frequency Cumulative
Frequency
0 ≤ w <5 8 8
5 ≤ w <10 23 31
10 ≤ w < 15 20 51
15 ≤ w <20 10 61
20 ≤ w < 25 5 66
25 ≤ w < 30 6 72
 Median
Estimate=the
72 ÷number
2 = 36thofvalue
dogs
Median = 11kgmore than
that weighed
22kg.
80 LQ = ¼ x 72 = 18th value
LQ = 8kg less than 22kg
64 weighed
70
Cumulative Frequency

UQ = ¾ x 72
Therefore = 54th value
8 weighed more.
60 UQ = 16kg
50
IQR = 16 – 8 = 8kg
40

30

20

10
0 Weight (kg)
 Your turn
• Calculate the cumulative frequencies
• Draw a cumulative frequency graph for the data
• Use your curve to estimate the median,
quartiles and interquartile range.
• Estimate the number of students who are taller
than 173 cm.
• Estimate the number of students who are
shorter than 168 cm.
 Cumulative Frequency Curves
• The heights of a selection of students was
measured and the data shown below. Show
the data on a cumulative frequency curve.
Height (cm) Frequency Cumulative
Frequency
155 ≤ h <160 2 2
160 ≤ h <165 6 8
165 ≤ h <170 14 22
170 ≤ h <175 19 41
175 ≤ h <180 8 49
180 ≤ h <185 1 50
 50 Median = 50 ÷ 2 = 25th value
45 Median = 171cm

40 LQ = ¼ x 50 = 12.5th value
LQ = 167cm
35
Cumulative Frequency

UQ = ¾ x 50 = 37.5th value
30 UQ = 174cm
25
IQR = 174 – 167 = 7cm
20

15

10

5
0 Height (cm)
155 160 165 170 175 180 185