Complete theory, formulas for mean (direct method, assumed mean method, step-deviation method), mode, median of grouped data, cumulative frequency graphs (ogives), and exercise solutions for CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2025-26.
Statistics is the branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. In Class 10, we focus on finding three measures of central tendency for grouped data (data presented in class intervals):
There are three methods to find the mean of grouped data:
where fᵢ = frequency of i-th class, xᵢ = class mark of i-th class.
where a = assumed mean, dᵢ = xᵢ - a (deviation).
where uᵢ = (xᵢ - a)/h, h = class width.
Find the mean of the following distribution:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 5, 8, 12, 7, 8
Solution: h = 10, let a = 25 (mid of 20-30). Calculate uᵢ = (xᵢ-25)/10. Σfᵢ = 40, Σfᵢuᵢ = -4. Mean = 25 + (-4/40)×10 = 25 - 1 = 24.
where:
L = Lower limit of modal class (class with highest frequency)
f₁ = Frequency of modal class
f₀ = Frequency of class preceding modal class
f₂ = Frequency of class succeeding modal class
h = Class width
Find the mode of the distribution:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 4, 8, 12, 6, 3
Solution: Modal class = 20-30 (highest frequency 12).
L = 20, f₁ = 12, f₀ = 8, f₂ = 6, h = 10.
Mode = 20 + [(12-8)/(2×12-8-6)] × 10 = 20 + [4/(24-14)] × 10 = 20 + (4/10)×10 = 20 + 4 = 24.
where:
L = Lower limit of median class (class where cumulative frequency reaches N/2)
N = Total frequency (Σfᵢ)
cf = Cumulative frequency of class preceding median class
f = Frequency of median class
h = Class width
Find the median of the distribution:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 5, 8, 12, 7, 8
Solution: N = 40, N/2 = 20. Cumulative frequencies: 5, 13, 25, 32, 40. Median class = 20-30 (cf = 25 ≥ 20).
L = 20, cf = 13, f = 12, h = 10.
Median = 20 + [(20-13)/12] × 10 = 20 + (7/12)×10 = 20 + 70/12 = 20 + 5.83 = 25.83.
An ogive is a graph that represents the cumulative frequency distribution. There are two types:
Draw a less than ogive for the distribution:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 2, 5, 8, 4, 1
Solution: Less than cumulative frequencies: 2, 7, 15, 19, 20. Plot points (10,2), (20,7), (30,15), (40,19), (50,20).
This relationship holds for a moderately skewed distribution. It is very useful when two of the three measures are known and we need to find the third.
If mean = 30 and median = 28, find mode.
Solution: Mode = 3 × 28 - 2 × 30 = 84 - 60 = 24.
Question: Find the mean of the following distribution using direct method:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 2, 3, 5, 7, 3
Solution: Class marks: 5, 15, 25, 35, 45. Σfᵢ = 20, Σfᵢxᵢ = 2×5 + 3×15 + 5×25 + 7×35 + 3×45 = 10+45+125+245+135 = 560. Mean = 560/20 = 28.
Question: Find the mean of the distribution using assumed mean method. Take a = 25.
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 4, 6, 10, 8, 2
Solution: xᵢ: 5,15,25,35,45. dᵢ = xᵢ-25: -20,-10,0,10,20. Σfᵢdᵢ = 4×(-20)+6×(-10)+10×0+8×10+2×20 = -80-60+0+80+40 = -20. Σfᵢ = 30. Mean = 25 + (-20/30) = 25 - 0.67 = 24.33.
Question: Find the median of the distribution:
Class: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50
Frequency: 6, 9, 15, 12, 8
Solution: N = 50, N/2 = 25. Cumulative: 6,15,30,42,50. Median class = 20-30. L=20, cf=15, f=15, h=10. Median = 20 + [(25-15)/15]×10 = 20 + (10/15)×10 = 20 + 6.67 = 26.67.
Question: Find the mode of the distribution:
Class: 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100
Frequency: 5, 8, 12, 7, 3
Solution: Modal class = 40-60 (f₁=12, L=40, f₀=8, f₂=7, h=20). Mode = 40 + [(12-8)/(2×12-8-7)]×20 = 40 + [4/(24-15)]×20 = 40 + (4/9)×20 = 40 + 80/9 = 40 + 8.89 = 48.89.
| Measure | Formula | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Mean | x̄ = Σfᵢxᵢ/Σfᵢ | Small numbers, easy calculation |
| Assumed Mean | x̄ = a + Σfᵢdᵢ/Σfᵢ | Moderate-sized numbers |
| Step-Deviation | x̄ = a + (Σfᵢuᵢ/Σfᵢ) × h | Large numbers, multiples of h |
| Mode | L + [(f₁-f₀)/(2f₁-f₀-f₂)]×h | Find most frequent value |
| Median | L + [(N/2 - cf)/f]×h | Find middle value |
| Empirical | Mode = 3 Median - 2 Mean | When two measures are known |