AP* Statistics Tutorial: Cumulative Frequency Plots
A cumulative frequency plot
is a way to display cumulative information graphically.
It shows the number, percentage, or proportion of observations
in a data set that are less than or equal to particular values.
Frequency vs. Cumulative Frequency
In a data set, the cumulative frequency for a
value x is the total number of scores that are less than
or equal to x. The charts below illustrate the
difference between frequency and cumulative frequency.
Both charts show scores for a test administered to 300 students.
| | | | | | | | | | 41-50 | 51-60 | 61-70 | 71-80 | 81-90 | 91-100 |
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Cumulative
frequency | 300 240 180 120 60 | |
| | | | | | | | | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
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In the chart on the left, column height shows frequency -
the number of students in each test score grouping. For example, about
30 students received a test score between 51 and 60.
In the chart on the right, column height shows cumulative frequency -
the number of students
up to and including each test score.
The chart on the right is
a cumulative frequency chart. It shows that 30 students received
a test score of at most 50; 60 students received a score of at
most 60; 120 students received a score of at most 70; and so on.
Absolute vs. Relative Frequency
Cumulative
percentage | 100 80 60 40 20 | |
| | | | | | | | | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
Frequency counts can be measured in terms of absolute numbers or
relative numbers (e.g.,
proportions
or percentages). The chart
to the right duplicates the cumulative frequency chart above, except that
it expresses the counts in terms of percentages rather than
absolute numbers.
Note that the columns in the chart have the same shape, whether the
Y axis is labeled with actual frequency counts or with percentages. If
we had used proportions instead of percentages, the shape would remain
the same.
Discrete vs. Continuous Variables
Cumulative
percentage |
 |
Each of the previous cumulative charts have used a
discrete
variable on the X axix (i.e., the horizontal axis).
The chart to the right duplicates the previous cumulative charts,
except that it uses a
continuous
variable for the test scores on the X axis.
Let's work through an example to understand how to read this
cumulative frequency plot. Specifically, let's find the
median.
Follow the grid line to the right from the Y axis at 50%.
This line intersects the curve over the X axis at a test score of
about 73. This means that half of the students received a test score
of at least 73. Thus, the median is 73. Use the same process
to find the cumulative percentage associated with any other test
score.
Test Your Understanding of This Lesson
Problem 1
Below, the cumulative frequency plot shows height (in inches) of
college basketball players.
What is the interquartile range?
(A) 3 inches
(B) 6 inches
(C) 25 inches
(D) 50 inches
(E) None of the above
Solution
The correct answer is (B). The
interquartile range is the middle range of the distribution,
defined by Q3 minus Q1.
Q1 is the height for which the cumulative percentage is 25%.
To find Q1 from the cumulative frequency plot,
follow the grid line to the right from the Y axis at 25%.
This line intersects the curve over the X axis at a height of
about 71 inches. This means that 25% of the basketball players are
at least 71 inches tall, so Q1 is 71.
To find Q3, follow the grid line to the right from the Y axis at 75%.
This line intersects the curve over the X axis at a height of
about 77 inches. This means that 75% of the basketball players are
at least 77 inches tall, so Q1 is 77.
Since the interquartile range is Q3 minus Q1, the interquartile
range is 77 - 71 or 6 inches.
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