Categorical Frequency Distribution

By counting frequencies we can make a

frequency distribution table

A categorical frequency distribution is used

for data that can be placed into specific
categories.
 Creating a Categorical Frequency Distribution

Step 1:
Make a table with the following
columns in order: class, tally, and
frequency
 Creating a Categorical Frequency Distribution

Step 2:
Tally the data and place the results in
the tally column.
 Creating a Categorical Frequency Distribution

Step 3: Count the tallies and place

the results in the frequency column.
 Example Categorical Frequency Distribution
These are the favorite colors of fifteen students.
Red Blue Green
Yellow Red Yellow
Green Red Red
Red Green Blue
Blue Red Green

Class Tally Frequency

Total=
 Grouped Frequency Distribution
A frequency distribution with classes that are
more than one unit in width

When the range of the data is large, the data must be

grouped into classes
41 104 112 118 87 95
105 57 107 67 78 125
109 99 105 99 101 92
Key Concept
 Class Width

The class width is the range of the class.

Class width = Upper boundary – Lower

boundary
 Creating a Frequency Distribution

Step 1:
Determine the minimum and maximum
values, and how many classes you need
 Creating a Frequency Distribution
Step 2:
Find the class width

Class Width = __Range__

# of classes
*ALWAYS round up to the next whole number
Creating a Frequency Distribution

Step 3:
Write your minimum value as your
lowest lower limit

Class Limits
Minimum value 41
Creating a Frequency Distribution
Step 4: Add the class width to your lower
limit to find the next lower limit;
WRITE BELOW NOT BESIDE!
(do all lower limits first)
Ex: Class width = 9
Class Limits
2
11
20
29
Go until you have the amount of classes needed (in this case 4)
Creating a Frequency Distribution

Step 5: To find each upper limit, subtract

one from the next lower limit

Class Limits
2 - 10
11 - 19
20 - 28
29
Creating a Frequency Distribution

Step 6: To find last upper limit, add class

width to the 2nd to last upper limit
Class Limits
2 - 10
11 - 19
20 - 28
29 - 37
 Minutes Spent on the Phone

102 124 108 86 103 82

71 104 112 118 87 95
103 116 85 122 87 100
105 97 107 67 78 125
109 99 105 99 101 92

Make a frequency distribution table with five classes.

Minimum value = 67
Maximum value = 125
1. Choose the number of classes
For this problem use 5

2. Calculate the Class Width

Find the range = maximum value – minimum. Then divide this by the number of
classes. Finally, round up to the next whole number.
(125 - 67) / 5 = 11.6 Round up to 12

3. Determine All Class Limits

The lower class limit is the lowest data value that belongs in a class and the upper
class limit is the highest. Use the minimum value as the lower class limit in the first
class. (67)

4. Mark a tally | in appropriate class for each data value.

After all data values are tallied, count the tallies in each class for the class frequencies.
Minimum = 67, Maximum = 125
Number of classes = 5
Class width = 12

Class Limits Tally f

67 78 3
79 90 5
91 102 8
103 114 9
115 126 5
Do all lower class limits first. Total=30
 Try One On Your Own
After conducting a survey of 30 of your
classmates, you are left with the following set
of data on how many days off each employee
has taken this year:
7, 8, 9, 4, 10, 36, 19, 9, 26, 5, 11, 6, 2, 9,
10, 8, 16, 29, 7, 9, 8, 25, 4, 27, 8, 7, 6, 10,
34, 8

Construct a Frequency Table. Assume you want to

divide the data into 5 different classes.
 Answer

Class Tally Frequency

Limits
2-8 14
9-15 8
16-22 2
23-29 4
30-36 2

Total: 30
Homework
Frequency Table Worksheet