Measures of Central Tendency

CPT Section D Quantitative Aptitude Chapter 11

Dr. R. B. Tiwari
 Introduction

Central Behavior of the data.

Off Central Behavior of the data.

1. Measures of Central Tendency.

The tendency of a given set of observations to cluster

around a single central or middle value and the single value
that represents the given set of observations is described
as a measure of central tendency or location or average.

e.g. a company is recognized by its high average profit and

an educational institution is judged on the basis of the
average marks obtained by the students.
Arithmetic Mean
Arithmetic Mean

Case (i) Arithmetic Mean (AM)

X 1 + X 2 + ... + X n
(i) X =
n

or X =
∑ X
n
Case (ii) For Discrete Series

i.e. For x1-f1, x2-f2,…xn-fn type

data
If values of X are large enough

(ii) X= A+
∑ fd
XC
N
Xi − A
=
where di = ∀ i 1, 2,3....n
C
A = Assumed Mean

or C = Common divisor for ungrouped data.

 Case (iii) For Continuous
Series
i. e. If frequencies are given to corresponding
class intervals
Example 1.
Following are the daily wages in rupees of a sample
of 9 workers: 58,62,48,53,70,52,60,84,75.Compute the
mean wage.
Solution: Given that no. of workers, n = 9 ,and

Sum of the wages ∑ X =58 + 62 + 48 + 53 + 70 + 52 + 60 + 84 + 75 =562

Therefore the mean wage is given by AM= X=
∑ X 562
= = 62.44
n 9
Example 2:
Find the AM for the following data:
X: 10 20 30 40 50
f : 2 5 6 3 4

Solution:
Example 3.

Compute the mean weight of a group

of BBA students of St. Xavier’s
College from the following data:

• Weights in Kgs: 44-48 49-53 54-58 59-63 64-68 69-73

• No. of students. 3 4 5 7 9 8
Solution
Weights in Kgs. No. of Mid –Values (X) fX
Students
(f)

44-48 3 46 138

49-53 4 51 204

54-58 5 56 280

59-63 7 61 427

64-68 9 66 594

69-73 8 71 568

Totals N=36 2211

Answer

=X
∑=
fX 2211
= 61.42 kgs
N 36
Example 4.

Find the AM for the following

frequency distribution.

• Class Intervals: 350-369 370-389 390-409 410-429 430-449 450-469 470-489

• Frequency : 23 38 58 82 65 31 11
Solution
Class Frequenc Mid- fd
X i − A X i − 419.50
intervals y (f) Values =di =
C 20
(X)

350-369 23 359.50 -3 -69

370-389 38 379.50 -2 -76
390-409 58 399.50 -1 -58
410-429 82 419.50= 0 0
A
430-449 65 439.50 1 65
450-469 31 459.50 2 62
470-489 11 479.50 3 33
Totals N=308 -43
Solution
Note that here A is taken as guessed mid –
value and C is a common divisor.
Then AM is given as

X= A+
∑ fd
XC
N
( −43)
= 419.50 + X 20
308
= 416.71
Properties of AM

If all observations are equal to a constant, k say, Then AM

is also equal to k.
Properties of AM

The algebraic sum of deviations taken about AM is

always zero.

i.e. ∑( X − X ) =
i 0 for ungrouped data. and

∑ f (X − X ) =
i i 0 for grouped frequancy distribution.

e.g. the AM of 3,5 and 7 is 5 and (3-5)+(5-5)+(7-5)=0

 Properties of AM

AM is affected by change of origin and/or scale.

i.e. if

=d
X−A
= and d
∑ fd
C N
then X= A + C.d
Properties of AM
If there are two groups having n1 and n2
observations and
X 1 and X2
as their respective AMs , then
the AM of combined group is given as

n1 X 1 + n2 X 2
X =
n1 + n2
Example 5.

The mean salary for a group of 40

female workers is Rs. 5200 per
month and that for a group of 60
male workers is Rs. 6800 per month.
What is the combined salary?
Solution.
n1 =
40, X 1 5200
n2 =
60, X 2 6800
Then combined mean salary is given by
n1 X 1 + n2 X 2
X =
n1 + n2
40 X 5200 + 60 X 6800
=
40 + 60
= Rs.6160
Example 6.

Find the AM of the following data.

• Marks: less than 10 <20 <30 <40 <50

No. of students: 5 13 23 27 30
Solution
Marks No. of Mid-value fx
students (X)
(f)
0-10 5 5 25

10-20 13-5=8 15 120

20-30 23-13=10 25 250

30-40 27-23=4 35 140

40-50 30-27=3 45 135

N=30 670
Solution: AM

=
X
∑=
fX 670
= 22.33
N 30
Example.7

Find the missing value Y, if the

following frequency distribution has
AM as 5.

• X: 3 5 Y 6
• f: 1 3 2 4
 Solution. AM is given by

=X
∑
=
fX 1 × 3 + 3 × 5 + 2Y + 6 × 4 42 + 2Y
=
N 1+ 3 + 2 + 4 10
42 + 2Y
i.e. 5 =
10
or 50 − 42 = 2Y
therefore Y = 4
 Question Time
MCQ’s on Arithmetic Mean
Question 1.
AM of 1,2,3,4,5,6 is
a) 2.5

b) 3.5

c) 4.5

d) 5.5

Answer: (b) 3.5

Question 2.
AM of 5,5,5,5,5, is

(a) 3

(b) 5

(c) 7

(d) 9

Answer: (b) 5
Question.3.
The algebraic sum of deviations taken about the
AM of 15, 20 and 25 is

(a) 0

(b) 5

(c) -5

(d) None of these

Answer: (a) 0
Question 4.
If a variable assumes the values 1,2,3,4,5 with frequencies
as 1,2,3,4,5 respectively, then AM is

(a) 11/3

(b) 5

(c) 4

(d) 4.5

Answer: (a) 11/3

Question.5
The average salary of a group of unskilled workers is Rs.
10000 and that of a group of skilled workers is Rs. 15000.If
the combined salary is Rs. 12000, then what is the
percentage of skilled workers?

(a) 40%

(b)50%

(c) 60%

(d) None of these

Answer: (a) 40%

Question 6
Find the AM for the following frequency distribution
Marks : 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64
No. Of students: 10 18 32 26 14 10

(a) 30

(b) 29

(c) 33.68

(d) 34.21

Answer: (c) 33.68

Question7

Find the AM of the following data.

• Marks: less than 20 <40 <60 <80 <100

• No. of students: 5 17 28 42 50
Question 7

(a) 51.2

(b) 52.2

(c) 53.2

(d) 54.2

Answer: (c) 53.2

Question.8

Find the missing value Y, if the

following frequency distribution has
AM as 5.

• X: 6 4 Y 2
• f: 4 3 2 1
Question 8

(a) 5

(b) 6

(c) 7

(d) 8

Answer: (b) 6
Question.9

Find the AM of the following frequency

distribution.

• X: 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50

• f: 3 5 7 4 1
Question 9

(a) 20.5

(b) 21.5

(c) 22.5

(d) 23.5

Answer: (c) 22.5

Question.10
Find the AM of the following
frequency distribution.

• X: 0-50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250

• f: 15 25 30 20 10
Question 10

(a) 115.5

(b) 116.5

(c) 117.5

(d) 118.5

Answer: (c) 117.5

Question.11
If the AM of the following frequency
distribution is 14.7 for age in years of 20
individuals. Find the missing values.

• X: 0-6 6-12 12-18 18-24 24-30

• f: 3 5 - - 4
Question 11

(a) 4, 4

(b) 6, 2

(c) 5, 3

(d) 7, 1

Answer: (b) 6, 2
Question.12

If the AM of the series 1,2,3,…n is

6. Find the value of n.
Question 12

(a) 7

(b) 9

(c) 11

(d) 12

Answer: (c) 11
Median
Median (Md) and other
Partition Values
Median is a positional average, which divides the data
into two equal parts.
Properties of Median

If Y= a +b X
then Md(Y) = a + b Md(X)
Properties of Median

The sum of absolute deviations is minimum

when it is measured about Md. i.e.

∑ X−A is minimum if A =
Md
Determination of Median
Case (i):
When number of observations is odd, i.e.
n is odd.

First arrange the observations in ascending or

descending order . If no. of observations is n
which is an odd number, then

 n +1
Then Md =   th term
 2 
Example 1 :
Find median of the following data
40, 29, 15, 58, 70

Solution: Let us arrange the observations in

ascending order as 15, 29, 40, 58, 70
Here n= 5,Therefore

 n +1  5 +1
= Md   th=
term = rd
 3 term
 2   2 
i.e. Md = 40
Case(ii)
When number of observations is even, i.e. n is even.
First arrange the observations in ascending or
descending order.

1 n n 
=
Then Md ( th term ) + ( + 1)th term
2  2 2 

Example 2.
Find the Median of the following observations. 5, 25,
11, 14, 26, 30.

Solution: Let us arrange these observations into

ascending order as 5, 11, 14, 25, 26, 30.
Here n = 6 i.e. n is even, hence

1 n n 
=Md ( th term ) + ( + 1)th term
2  2 2 

1 6 6  1
Then Md=  ( th term) + ( + 1)th term = (14 + 25)= 19.5
2 2 2  2
Case (iii)

For x1-f1, x2-f2,…xn-fn type data, Form a

column of less than type cumulative
frequencies.

Then Md = Value of the variable X

corresponding to the cumulative frequency
just greater than N/2
Example 3.

Find the median of the following

frequency distribution.

• X: 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
• f: 7 12 20 22 18 14 9
Solution:
X f Less than type c.f.
60 7 7
65 12 19
70 20 39
75 22 61
80 18 79
85 14 83
90 9 92
Total N=92
Solution

Here the c.f. just greater than N/2 i.e. 46,

is 61. Therefore the corresponding value
of X is Median, i.e. Md = 75
Case (iv)
For grouped data i.e. if frequencies are
given corresponding to the class
intervals.

First find the Md class corresponding

to the cumulative
frequency just greater than N/2.
 Median Formula for Continuous
Series

N 
 − c
l+
2 
Then Md = ×h
f
where l = lower limit of the Md class
f = frequency of the Md class
c = cumulative frequency preceeding the Md class
h = class width (besure that the classintervals are exclussivetype, i.e. continuous classes)
Example. 4.

Find the Median of the

following data.

• Marks: 0- 10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50

• No. of students: 5 8 10 7 6
Solution
Marks No. Of students c.f.
Class Intervals (f)
0-10 5 5

10-20 8 13=c

20-30 10=f 23

30-40 7 30

40-50 6 36

Totals N=36
Solution
The c.f. just greater than N/2 i.e. 18, is 36, which is the
Md class. Hence, Note that if class intervals are not
continuous then they are first made continuous by
adding d/2 to the all upper limits and subtracting d/2
from all the lower limits,
where d is the difference between lower limit of any
class and upper limit of the previous class.

N 
 − c 
l+  ×h
2
Then Md =
f
 36 
 − 13 
Md = 20 +   ×10 = 25
2
i.e.
10
Quartiles
There are three quartiles viz.
Q1, Q2 and Q3,which divide
the data into four equal parts.
 Case (i)
For x1-f1, x2-f2,…xn-fn type data

First form a column of cumulative

frequencies then the value of the variable
corresponding to the c.f. just greater than
iN/4 gives the ith quartile.
Quartile
Then ith (i=1,2,3) Quartile (Qi) is given
by

 iN 
 −c
l+  ×h
4
Then Q i =
f
where l = lower limit of the Q i class
f = frequency of the Q i class
c = cumulative frequency preceeding the Q i class
h = class width (besure that the classintervals are exclussivetype, i.e. continuous classes)
Example 1
Find the third quartile for the following
frequency distribution.

X: 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

f: 3 5 10 20 30 40 45 35 7 5
Solution
X f c.f.
10 3 3
20 5 8
30 10 18
40 20 38
50 30 68
60 40 108
70 45 153
80 35 188
90 7 195
100 5 200
Total N= 200
Solution
Here to calculate third quartile we see the value of X

corresponding to the

cummulative frequency just greater than

3N/4=3x200/4=150, which is 153. Hence third quartile

is given by

Q3 = 70
Case (ii)

If frequencies are given to

corresponding class intervals.
 Quartile

Then ith (i=1,2,3) Quartile (Qi) is given

by

 iN 
 −c
l+  ×h
4
Then Q i =
f
where l = lower limit of the Q i class
f = frequency of the Q i class
c = cumulative frequency preceeding the Q i class
h = class width (besure that the classintervals are exclussivetype, i.e. continuous classes )
Example 2
Find the First and Third Quartiles for the following
frequency distribution.

• Marks: 0- 10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60

• No. of students: 5 8 10 7 6 4
Solution
Marks No. Of students c.f.
Class Intervals (f)
0-10 5 5

10-20 8 13

20-30 10 23

30-40 7 30

40-50 6 36

50-60 4 40

Totals N=40
Solution
N 
 − c 
Then Q1 =
l+  4  ×h
f
 40 
 − 5 
i.e. Q1 = 10 +  4  ×10 = 16.25
8

And  3N 
 − c 
l+  ×h
4
Then Q3 =
f
 3 × 40 
 − 30 
i.e. Q3 = 40 +  4  ×10 = 40
6
Deciles

There are nine deciles viz.

D1, D2,…D9, which divide
the data into 10 equal parts.
Case (i)
For x1-f1, x2-f2,…xn-fn type data, Form a
column of less than type cumulative
frequencies.

Then ith decile is the value of the variable X

corresponding to cumulative frequency just
greater than iN/10.
Example 1
Find the 5th decile for the following
frequency distribution.

X: 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

f: 3 5 10 20 30 40 45 35 7 5
Solution
X f c.f.
10 3 3
20 5 8
30 10 18
40 20 38
50 30 68
60 40 108
70 45 153
80 35 188
90 7 195
100 5 200
Total N= 200
Solution
Here we have formed the column of
cumulative frequencies, now see the
c.f. just greater than
5N/10=5x200/10=100, which is 108,
hence the corresponding value of X is
fifth decile, i.e.

D5 = 60
Case (ii)
For grouped data, i.e. frequencies against
class intervals are given.

Then ith decile class is obtained corresponding to

the cumulative frequency just greater than iN/10.

 Then ith (i-1,2,…9) decile (Di) is
given by

 iN 
 − c 
Di =l+  10  ×h
f
where l = lower limit of the Di class
f = frequency of the Di class
c = cumulative frequency preceeding the Di class
h = class width (be sure that the class intervals are exclussive type, i.e. continuous classes )
Example 2

Find the seventh decile for the

following frequency distribution.

Marks : 0- 10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60

No. of students: 5 8 10 7 6 4
Solution
Marks No. of students c.f.
Class (f)
Intervals

0-10 5 5

10-20 8 13

20-30 10 23

30-40 7 30

40-50 6 36

50-60 4 40

Totals N=40
 First we find the seventh decile class
corresponding to the c.f. just greater than
7N/10=28, i.e. 30. Hence

 7N 
 − c
Then D7 =
l+  10  ×h
f
 7 × 40 
 − 23 
i.e. D7 =30 +  10  ×10
7
i.e. D7 =30 + 7.14 = 37.14
Percentiles:
Percentiles divide the
whole data into 100 equal
parts. They are 99 in
number and denoted by
P1,P2,…P99
Case (i)
For x1-f1, x2-f2,…xn-fn type data.

First, form a column of less than type

cumulative frequencies. Identify the ith
percentile class for which the cumulative
frequency is just greater than iN/100.
Example 1
Find the 65th percentile for the following
frequency distribution.

X: 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

f: 3 5 10 20 30 40 45 35 7 5
Solution
X f c.f.
10 3 3
20 5 8
30 10 18
40 20 38
50 30 68
60 40 108
70 45 153
80 35 188
90 7 195
100 5 200
Total N= 200
The 65th Percentile
The 65th percentile is the value of X for which
corresponding cumulative frequency is just greater
than 65N/100=65x200/100=130,
which is 153 .

Hence P65 = 70
Case (ii)
For grouped data, i.e. frequencies are
given corresponding to class intervals.

th
First obtain the percentile
i
class which is corresponding to
the cumulative frequency just
greater than iN/100.
Percentile
Then ith (i=1,2,…99) percentile (Pi) is given
by
 iN 
 −c
l+  ×h
100
Pi =
f
where l = lower limit of the Pi class
f = frequency of the Pi class
c = cumulative frequency preceeding the Pi class
h = class width (be sure that the class intervals are exclussive type, i.e. continuous classes )
Example 2.
Find the 52nd percentile for
the following frequency distribution.
• Marks: 0- 10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60
• No. of students: 5 8 10 7 6 4
Solution
Marks No. Of students c.f.
Class Intervals (f)

0-10 5 5

10-20 8 13

20-30 10 23

30-40 7 30

40-50 6 36

50-60 4 40

Totals N=40
The 52nd percentile

First we obtain the 52nd Percentile class which is

corresponding to the c.f. just greater than 52N/100 i.e.
52x40/100=20.8, which is 23, shown as red.

 52 × N 
 − c
l+  ×h
100
P52 =
f
 52 × 40 
 − 13 
or P52 =20 +  100  ×10
10
P52 =20 + 7.8 =27.8
Partition Values
for Ungrouped Data:

For unclassified data the pth Quartile is

given by (n+1)pth value.

Take p=1/4 for first quartile

p=2/4 for second quartile
p=3/4 for third quartile
Example
Find Q3, for the wages of
labourers:

• Rs. 82, 56, 90, 50, 120, 75,

79, 80, 130, and 65.
Solution
Arrange the wages in ascending order as :

50, 56, 65, 75, 79, 80, 82, 90, 120, 130
3
Q3 = ( n + 1) × th value
4
3
i .e. = (10 + 1) × th value = 8.25 th value
4
i.e. = 8th value + 0.25(9th value − 8th value)
i .e . = 90 + 0.25(120 − 90)
i .e . = 90.5
 Partition Values
for Ungrouped Data:

For unclassified data the pth Decile is given by

(n+1)pth value.

Take p=1/10 for first decile, p=2/10 for second

decile, . . . p=9/10 for ninth decile.
Example

Find D7, for the wages of

labourers:

• Rs. 82, 56, 90, 50, 120, 75,

79, 80, 130, and 65.
Solution
Arrange the wages in ascending order as :

50, 56, 65, 75, 79, 80, 82, 90, 120, 130
7
D7 = ( n + 1) × th value
10
7
i .e. = (10 + 1) × th value = 7.7 th value
10
i.e. = 7 th value + 0.7 (8th value − 7 th value)
i .e. = 82 + 0.7(90 − 82)
i . e . D 7 = 87.6
Partition Values
for Ungrouped Data:

For unclassified data the pth Percentile is

given by (n+1)pth value.

Take p=1/100 for first percentile,

p=2/100 for second percentile, . . . p=99/100
for ninety ninth percentile.
Example
Find P73, for the wages of
labourers:
• Rs. 82, 56, 90, 50, 120, 75,
79, 80, 130, and 65.
Solution
Arrange the wages in ascending order as :

50, 56, 65, 75, 79, 80, 82, 90, 120, 130
73
P73 = ( n + 1) × th value
100
73
i .e. = (10 + 1) × th value = 8.03 rd value
100
i.e. = 8th value + 0.03 (9th value − 8th value)
i .e. = 90 + 0.03(120 − 90)
i . e . P73 = 90.9
 Question Time
M.C.Q's. on Median and other
Partition Values
Question 1
What is the Median of 5, 8, 6, 9, 11 and 4.

a) 6
b) 7

c) 8

d) None of these

Answer: (b) 7
Question 2
What is the value of the first Quartile for the
observations 15, 18,10, 20, 23, 28, 12, 16?

(a) 17

(b) 15.75

(c) 12

(d) 12.75

Answer: (d) 12.75

Question 3.

The third decile for the numbers 15,

10, 20, 25, 18, 11, 9, 12 is

(a) 13

(b) 10.70

(c) 11

(d)11.50

Answer: (b) 10.70

Question 4
Find the median of 12, 4, 36, 45, 3, 58, 65?

(a) 45

(b) 36

(c) 58
(d) 42

Answer: (b) 36
Question 5
Find the 73rd percentile of 4, 12, 36, 45, 3, 58, 65?

(a) 54.92

(b) 55.92

(c) 56.92
(d) 57.92

Answer: (b) 55.92

Question 6
Find the missing frequency if the median mark is 23?
X : 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50
f : 5 8 ? 6 3

(a) 9

(b) 11

(c) 10
(d) 7

Answer: (c) 10
Question 7
The absolute sum of deviations is minimum when it
is measured about

(a) Mean

(b) Median

(c) Mode
(d) None of these

Answer: (b) Median

Question 8
The variables X and Y are given by Y= 3X+6. If the
median of X is 10, what is the median of Y?

(a) 3

(b) 6

(c) 18
(d) 36

Answer: (d) 36
Question 9
What is the value of the first quartile for observations
15, 18, 10, 20, 23, 28, 12, 16?

(a) 17

(b) 16

(c) 15.75
(d) 12

Answer: (c) 15.75

Question 10
The third decile for the numbers 15, 10, 20, 25,
18, 11, 9, 12 is

(a) 13

(b) 10.70

(c) 11
(d) 11.50

Answer: (b) 10.70

Question 11
Find the 27th percentile for the following frequency
distribution.
X: 0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 39-49
f: 5 7 12 10 6
(a) 13

(b) 17.79

(c) 11
(d) 11.50

Answer: (b) 17.79

Mode
Mode (Mo):

This is an industrial average.

The most frequent value of the

variable is called mode.
Determination of Mode:

Case (i) When data is unclassified.

• e.g. Mo of 5, 3, 8, 9, 5, 6 is 5 which
is the most frequent value.
Case (ii)
For grouped data i.e. if frequencies corresponding to
class intervals are given, then Mo is given as
 f 0 − f −1 
Mo = l + × h
 2 f 0 − f −1 − f1 

where
l = lower limit of modal class
f 0 = frequency of the modal class
f −1 frequency of pre − modal class
f1 frequency of post − modal class
h = class width (note that class intervals must be continuous)
 Example:
Find the Mo for the following frequency
distribution.

Class Intervals: 350-369, 370-389, 390-409, 410-429, 430-449, 450-469, 470-489

Frequency : 23, 38, 58, 82, 65, 31, 11

Solution
Class Intervals Continuous Class Intervals Frequency

350-369 349.5-369.5 23

370-389 369.5-389.5 38

390-409 389.5-409.5 58

410-429 409.5-429.5 82

430-449 429.5-449.5 65

450-469 449.5-469.5 31

470-489 469.5-489.5 11
Solution
 f 0 − f −1 
Mo = l + ×h
 2 f 0 − f −1 − f1 
 82 − 58 
Mo = 409.5 +   × 20
 2 × 82 − 58 − 65 
i.e. Mo = 409.5 + 11.71 = 421.21
Relation between Mean, Median
And Mode:

Mode =3 Median-2 Mean

• (OR)

Mean-Mode=3(Mean-Median)
 Question Time

MCQ’ on Mode
Question 1
What is the Modal value for the numbers
5, 8, 6, 4, 10,15, 18, 10, 5, 10?

(a) 5

(b) 10

(c) 14

(d) None of these

Answer: (b) 10
Question 2
The Mode for the following frequency distribution:
Class Intervals: 350-369, 370-389, 390-409, 410-429, 430-449, 450-469
Frequency : 15 27 31 19 13 6

(a) 390

(b) 394.86

(c) 395.86

(d) 396

Answer: (c) 395.86

Question 6
Following is an incomplete distribution having
modal mark as 44.
Marks: 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100
No. of students: 5 18 X 12 5
What would be the mean marks?

(a) 45

(b) 46

(c) 47

(d) 48

Answer : (d) 48
Question 7
Measures of Central Tendency for given set of
observations measures

(a) The scatterness of observations

(b) the central location of observations

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) None of these

Answer: (b) the central location of observations

Question 8
Weighted averages are considered when

(a) The data are not classified

(b) The data are put in the form of grouped frequency distribution

(c) All the observations are not of equal importance

(d) Both (i) and (iii)

Answer: (c) All the observations are not of equal importance

Geometric Mean
 Geometric Mean (G)

GM is defined if no observation
is zero or negative.
 Geometric Mean (G)

GM of n positive observations
is defined as the nth root of
their product.
 Geometric Mean (G)

GM is used to calculate average

growth rate or average of ratios.
 Geometric Mean (G)

If Z=X.Y then
GM(Z)=GM(X).GM(Y)
 Geometric Mean (G)

If Z=X/Y then
GM(Z)=GM(X)/GM(Y)
GM for Individual series
GM of X1, X2,…Xn is given by
1
G = (X1 . X 2 ... X n ) n

1
or log G =
n
∑ log X
GM for Discrete Series

GM for X1-f1, X2-f2,…Xn-fn type data

1
G = ( X 1 f1 . X 2f 2 ... X nf n ) N

1
or l og G =
N
∑ f log X
Example 1

GM of 2, 3, and 4 is given as

1 1
G= ( 2 × 3 × 4) 3 = ( 64 ) 3 = 4
Example 2.
Find the GM of the following frequency
distribution.

• X : 2 4 8 16
• f: 2 3 3 2
Solution
1
G = (X 1
f1
.X 2
f2
... X n
fn
) N

1
or (
G = 2 .4 .8 .16
2 3 3 2
) ( 2 + 3+ 3+ 2)

1
or (
G = 2 .2 .2 .2
2 6 9 8
) 10

1
or =
G ( 2 )=25 10 2=
2.5
4 2
G = 5.66
Harmonic Mean
Harmonic Mean (H)
HM is defined if
no observation is zero.
 Harmonic Mean (H)

HM of n observations is defined as the

reciprocal of Arithmetic Mean of the
reciprocals of the observations.
Harmonic Mean (H)

This is used to calculate the

average speeds.
Harmonic Mean (H)
Combined HM of two groups having n1 and n2
observations and H1 and H2 as their respective
Harmonic Means is given by

( n1 + n2 )
H =
 n1 n2 
 + 
 H 1 H 2 
Case (i)
HM of X1, X2, … Xn is

n
H =
 1 
∑  X 
Example 1
HM of 2, 4, and 6 is

n 3 3 36
=
H = = = = 3.27
1  1 1 1  11 11
∑  X  ∑  2 + 4 + 6  12
Example 2

Find the HM of the following data

X : 2 4 8 16

f : 2 3 3 2

Solution :
N ( 2 + 3 + 3 + 2)
=H = = 4.44
f 2 2 
∑X
3 3
∑  2 + 4 + 8 + 16 
Case(ii)
If the data is of X1-f1, X2-f2,…Xn-fn type
data, then HM is given by

N
H =
f
where N ∑ f
∑X
Relation Between AM, GM and HM:
(G=
) 2 ( A) × ( H )

Moreover
AM ≥ GM ≥ HM
Note that equality holds if all the observations are equal.
Weighted Average
 Weighted Average:

If all the observations are not

equally important i.e. weights are
assigned to them, then Weighted
AM, Weighted GM and Weighted
HM are calculated.
Weighted AM is

AM =
∑ WX
∑W
 Weighted GM is

 ∑ W log X 
GM = Ante log  
 ∑W
 
Weighted HM is

HM =
∑W
W
∑ X
Example 1
Find the weighted AM and weighted
HM for the following data

X : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
W : 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102
Solution
=
Weighted AM
∑
=
WX 1 × 12 + 2 × 2 2 + ... + n × n 2
∑W 12 + 2 2 + ... + n 2
 n(n + 1) 
2

13 + 23 + ... + n3 
 2 

= =
12 + 2 2 + ... + n 2 n(n + 1)(2 n + 1)
6
3 n(n + 1)
or AM =
2(2 n + 1)
Solution
Weighted =
HM
∑
=
W 12 + 2 2 + ... + n 2
W 12 22 n2
∑X 1
+
2
+ ... +
n
 n(n + 1)(2 n + 1) 
1 + 2 + ... + n
2 2 2 
 6 

= =
1 + 2 + ... + n n(n + 1)
2
(2 n + 1)
or HM =
3
 Question Time
MCQ’ on GM & HM
Question 1
Which measure of central tendency is used to
find average rates.

(a) AM
(b) GM
(c) HM
(d) Both (b) & (c)
Answer: (b) GM
Question 2
Which of the following results hold for a set
of distinct positive observations?

(a) AM ≥ GM ≥ HM

(b) HM ≥ GM ≥ AM

(c) AM > GM > HM

(d) GM > AM > HM

Answer: (a) AM ≥ GM ≥ HM
Question 3
The Harmonic Mean for the numbers 2,3,5 is

(a) 2.00

(b) 3.33

(c) 2.90

(d) -3.33

Answer: (c) 2.90

Question 4
What is the Geometric Mean of
the numbers 4,12, 36?

(a) 24
(b) 12
(c) 36
(d) 18
Answer: (b) 12
Question 5
If the AM and GM for the two numbers are 6.50
and 6 respectively then the two numbers are

(a) 6 and 7
(b) 9 and 4

(c) 10 and 3

(d) 8 and 5

Answer (b) 9 and 4

Question 6
If the AM and HM for two numbers are
5 and 3.2 respectively then the GM will be

(a) 16
(b) 4.10
(c) 4.05
(d) 4.00
Answer: (d) 4
Question 7
If GM of X is 10 and GM of Y is 15, then
the value of GM of XY is

(a) 150
(b) log 10 x log15
(c) log 150
(d) none of these
Answer: (a) 150
Question 8
If AM of a variable X is 10 and GM of X is
20, then the HM of X is

(a) 40
(b) 50
(c) 20
(d) 30
Answer: (a) 40
Question 9
The HM of 1, 1/2, 1/3 … 1/n is

(a) n

(b) 2n

(c) 2/(n+1)

(d) n(n+1)/2

Answer: (c) 2/(n+1)

Thank You