The lengths of 40 leaves of a plant are measured correct to nearest millimetre, and the data obtained is represented in the following table:

Length (in mm):	118-126	127-135	136-144	145-153	154-162	163-171	172-180
No. of leaves:	3	5	9	12	5	4	2

Find the median length of the leaves.
(Hint: The data needs to be converted to continuous classes for finding the median since the formula assumes continuous classes. The classes then change to 117.5 – 126.5

Given:

The lengths of 40 leaves of a plant are n measured correct to the nearest millimetre.

To do:

We have to find the mean length of the leaf.

Solution:

Arranging the classes in exclusive form and then forming its cumulative frequency table as below, we get,

Here,

$N = 40$

$\frac{N}{2} = \frac{40}{2} = 20$

The cumulative frequency just greater than $\frac{N}{2}$ is 29 and the corresponding class is 144.5 – 153.5. 

This implies, that 144.5 – 153.5 is the median class.

Therefore,

$l = 144.5, f = 12, F = 17$ and $h = (153.5 - 144.5) = 9$

Median $=\mathrm{l}+\frac{\frac{\mathrm{N}}{2}-\mathrm{F}}{\mathrm{f}} \times \mathrm{h}$

$=144.5+\frac{20-17}{12} \times 9$

$=144.5+\frac{3}{4} \times 3$

$=144.5+\frac{9}{4}$

$= 144.5 + 2.25$

$= 146.75$

The mean length of the leaf is 146.75 mm.  

Tutorialspoint

Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

71 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started