PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

Code: CAT-208
BCA-III Sem
Lecture – 1.2
MEASURE OF CENTRAL TENDENCY
(ARITHMETIC MEAN)
(Short-Cut Method & Step-Deviation Method)

Instructor : Dr. Sandeep Mogha

(E9840)

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 Measures of Central Tendency

The mean, median and mode are all valid measures of central tendency, but under different

conditions, some measures of central tendency become more appropriate to use than others. In

the following sections, we will look at the Mean, Median and Mode and learn how to calculate

them and under what conditions they are most appropriate to be used

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 Arithmetic Mean

Arithmetic Mean: Arithmetic mean of a group of observations is the quotient obtained by dividing
the sum of all observations by the total number of observations.

Sum of all observations

i.e. Arithmetic Mean (A.M.)=
Total number of observations

For Individual Series: If x1 , x2 ,..., xn be the n values of a variable x, then the Arithmetic Mean
is given by:

A.M . 
x1  x2  ...  xn

x
n n

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 For discrete series: If x1 , x2 ,..., xn be the n values of a variable x with frequencies f1 , f 2 ,..., f n
then the Arithmetic Mean is given by:
f x  f x  ...  f n xn
A.M .  1 1 2 2 
 fx
N N

Where N  f1  f 2  ..., ,  f n
For Grouped Series: If x1 , x2 ,..., xn be the mid-values of the frequency distribution with frequencies
f1 , f 2 ,..., f n

f1 x1  f 2 xMean
then the Arithmetic
A.M .  2  ...  f n xn


is given by: fx
N N
N  f1  f 2  ..., ,  f n

Where

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 Methods of Calculating Arithmetic Mean

 Direct Method

 Short-Cut Method

 Step Deviation Method

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 Direct Methods of Calculating Arithmetic Mean

1. For Individual Series:

Let the monthly income for 9 persons is as: 480, 350, 650, 400, 430, 700, 400, 400, 750 and 520.

Then A.M . 
x1  x2  ...  xn

x
n n
480  350  650  400  430  700  400  750  520

9
4680

9
 520

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 Direct Methods of Calculating Arithmetic Mean
2. For Discrete Series: Compute the mean for the given series given as
Height (cm) 219 216 213 210 207 204 201 198 195
Men 2 4 6 10 11 7 5 4 1

Height (cm) (x)

219
Frequency (f)
2
f*x
438 A.M . 
f1 x1  f 2 x2  ...  f n xn

 fx
216 4 864
N N
213
210
6
10
1278
2100 
 fx 10377
  207.54
N 50
207 11 2277
204 7 1428
201 5 1005
198 4 792
195 1 195
Total N=50 10377
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 Direct Methods of Calculating Arithmetic Mean
3. For Grouped Series: Compute the arithmetic mean for the given series
Class 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70
Frequency 8 26 30 20 16

Class Mid-value (x) f f*x

A.M . 
f1 x1  f 2 x2  ...  f n xn

 fx
20-30 25 8 200 N N
30-40 35 26 910

 fx 4600
  46
40-50 45 30 1350 N 100
50-60 55 20 1100

60-70 65 16 1040

Total ----- N=100 4600

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 Short-Cut Method of Calculating Arithmetic Mean

1. For Individual Series

Let If x1 , x2 , ..., xn be the n values of a variable x, then the Arithmetic Mean by Short-Cut
 u
method is given by A.M .  A  n
Where u  x  A
And A is Assumed mean
2. For Discrete and Grouped Series: If x1 , x2 ,..., xn be the n values of a variable x with
frequencies f1 , f 2 ,..., f n then the Arithmetic Mean is given by:

A.M .  A 
 fu
N

The same formula will be used for grouped series just x-value is taken as the mid-values of the
9 class intervals.
 Short-Cut Method of Calculating Arithmetic Mean
1. Individual Series: Let the monthly income for 9 persons is as: 450, 350, 650, 400, 430, 700,
400, 400, 750 and 520.
Let A=500
x u=x-A
A.M .  A 
 u
480 -20 n
350 -150
180
650 150  500 
9
400 -100  500  20
430 -70
 520
700 200
400 -100
750 250
520 20

10 Total  u  620  440  180

 Short-Cut Method of Calculating Arithmetic Mean
2. For Discrete Series: Compute the mean for the given series given as
Height (cm) 219 216 213 210 207 204 201 198 195
Men 2 4 6 10 11 7 5 4 1

Height (cm) Frequency (f) U=x-A u*f

A.M .  A 
 fu
219 2 12 24 N
216 4 9 36 27
213 6 6 36  207 
210 10
50
3 30
207 11 0 0  207  0.54
204 7 -3 -21
201 5  207.54
-6 -30
198 4 -9 -36
195 1 -12 -12
Total N=50 u=0 27
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 Short-Cut Methods of Calculating Arithmetic Mean
3. For Grouped Series: Compute the arithmetic mean for the given series
Class 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70
Frequency 8 26 30 20 16

A.M .  A 
 fu
Mid-value N
Class f u=x-A f*u
(x)
100
 45 
20-30 25 8 -20 -160 100
30-40 35 26 -10 -260  45  1
40-50 45 30 0 0
 46
50-60 55 20 10 200

60-70 65 16 20 320

Total ----- N=100 u=0 100

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 Step-Deviation Method of Calculating A.M.

1. For Individual Series

Let If x1 , x2 , ..., xn be the n values of a variable x, then the Arithmetic Mean by Step-
 v
Deviation method is given by A.M .  A  i  n
x A
Where v  i
And A is Assumed mean and i is the step taken.
2. Grouped Series: If x1 , x2 ,..., xn be mid-values the class intervals with frequencies
f1 , f 2 ,..., f n

A.M .  A  i 
 fvthen the Arithmetic Mean is given by:
N

13 For Discrete Series we may use same formula as for grouped series.
 Step-Deviation Method of Calculating A.M.
1. Individual Series: Let the monthly income for 9 persons is as: 480, 350, 650, 400, 430, 700,
400, 400, 750 and 520.
Let A=500
x (x-A) V=(x-A)/10
A.M .  A  i 
 v
480 -20 -2 n
350 -150 -15 18
 500  10 
650 150 15 9
400 -100 -10  500  20
430 -70 -7  520
700 200 20
400 -100 -10
750 250 25
520 20 2

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Total  v  62  44  18
 Step-Deviation Method of Calculating A.M.
2. For Discrete Series: Compute the mean for the given series given as
Height (cm) 219 216 213 210 207 204 201 198 195
Men 2 4 6 10 11 7 5 4 1

Height Freq. (f) (x-A) v-=(x-A)/3 f*v

A.M .  A  i 
 fv
219 2 12 4 8 N
216 4 9 3 12
9
213 6 6 2 12  207  3 
210 10 3 1 10 50
207 11 0
0 0 27
204 7 -3 -1 -7  207 
201 5 -10
50
-6 -2
198 4 -9 -3 -12  207.54
195 1 -12 -4 -4
Total N=50     9
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 Step-Deviation Methods of Calculating A.M.
3. For Grouped Series: Compute the arithmetic mean for the given series
Class 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70
Frequency 8 26 30 20 16

A.M .  A  i 
 fv
N
10
Class
Mid-value
f x-A
V=(x-A)/
f*v  45  10 
(x) 10 100
20-30 25 8 -20 -2 -16 100
30-40 35 26 -10 -1 -26
 45 
100
40-50 45 30 0 0 0
50-60 55 20 10 1 20  45  1
60-70 65 16 20 2 32
 46
Total ----- N=100     10

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 Advantages of Mean

All Data is Used: The biggest advantage of mean is that all the data is taken into account for
calculating mean of the data and hence no data is left out which results in mean having the
representation of all the data and therefore it will be giving accurate results.

Simple to Understand and Calculate: Another advantage of mean is that it is very easy to
understand and calculate and therefore any individual having basic mathematics knowledge can
understand and compute the mean from available data.

Finite and not affected by sample: Another benefit of mean is that it gives a finite figure for any
kind of data and also it is least affected by fluctuations of sampling and therefore one does not get
17 confused as the result is in a finite form capable of analysis for the end user.
 Disadvantages of Mean

If the data under consideration is too large than it is not feasible to compute mean of all data as it
will be time-consuming and also not practical and therefore mean cannot be used for very large
data. Hence if there are millions of data points then naturally calculation of mean will not be
possible for such large data.

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 Thank You

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