Session 8

Measures of Dispersions

Mean Deviation
Mean deviation is the average differences among the items in a series from the
mean itself or median or mode of that series. It is concerned with the extent of which
the values are dispersed about the mean or median or the mode. It is found by
averaging all the deviations from control tendency. These deviations are taken into
computations with regard to negative sign. Theoretically the deviations of item are
taken preferably from median instead than from the mean and mode.
Merits of Mean Deviation

It is rigidly defined and easy to compute.

It takes all items in to considerations and gives weight to deviation according to

these sign.

It is less affected by extreme values.

It removes all irregularities by obtaining deviation and provides correct measures.

Demerits of Mean Deviation

It is not suitable for algebraic treatments.

It is positive which is not justified mathematically.

It is not satisfactory measure when the deviations are taken from mode.

It is not suitable when class intervals are open end.

Formula to compute Mean Deviation

If xi is variant and takes the values x1, x2, x3, .. xn with average. A (mean,
median, mode), then mean deviation from the average A is defined by
MD =

xi A
N

For the grouped data

MD =

f xi A
N

Coefficient of MD =

MD
Mean

1. Compute MD and CMD from mean for the given data below.
X

d = xi x

21

26.55

32

15.55

38

9.55

41

6.55

49

1.45

54

6.45

59

11.45

66

18.45

68

20.45

x = 428

x i x = d= 116.45

i 1

MD =

xi

xi x
N

428
47.35
9

116.45
9

MD = = 12.938
Coefficient of MD =
=

MD
Avg
12.938
= 0.272
47.55

2. Following are the wages of workers. Find mean deviation from median and its
coefficient.
x

Wages

x i Me = x i 47

59

17

30

32

22

25

67

25

22

43

32

15

22

43

17

47 M

64

55

55

59

12

47

64

17

80

67

20

25

80

33

25

x i M = 186

x i M = 186

11 1 th
Median =
item
2

11 1
th
=
= 6 item
2
Me = 47

MD =
=

x i Me
N

186
= 16.91
11

Coefficient of MD =

MD
Median
16.91
= 0.359
47

3. Compute MD about its mode and its coefficient.

x

d = x i Mode

fd

20

100

600

40

19

80

1520

60

40

60

2400

80

23

40

920

100

65

20

1300

120 Mode

83 Modal
class

140

55

20

1100

160

20

40

800

180

60

5401

f = 320

f x i Mode
= 9180

the highest frequency is 83 and hence

Z = 120

MD=

x i Mode
N

9180
Median =

320

= 28.68

Coefficient of MD =

28.68
120

= 0.239

4. Find out the mean deviation from the data given below about its median.
Salaries

40

50

50-100

100-200

200-400

No. of Employees

22

18

10

No. of
Employees

x(mv)

cf

d = x i Me

fd

40

22

40

22

10

220

50

18

50

40

50-100

10

75

50

25

250

100-200

150

58

100

800

200-400

300

60

250

500

f = 60

f x i Me = 1770

N 1
Median =

th

item

60 1
2

61
= 30.5
2

It lies in 40 cf and against 40 cf

discrete value is 50

MD =

x i Median
N

1770
=

60
MD = 29.5

Coefficient of MD =
=

MD
Median

29.5
50

= 0.59