Find the mean and variance for the following frequency distribution.
| Classes | Frequencies |
|---|---|
| 0-30 | 2 |
| 30-60 | 3 |
| 60-90 | 5 |
| 90-120 | 10 |
| 120-150 | 3 |
| 150-180 | 5 |
| 180-210 | 2 |
🔒You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Variance and Standard Deviation of Data
Variance and Standard Deviation of Data
For a data set these measure spread about the mean. For ungrouped data
x1,…,xn with mean xˉ,
σ2=n1∑i=1n(xi−xˉ)2=n∑xi2−xˉ2,
and the standard deviation is σ=σ2. For a frequency distribution with values xi (class midpoints for grouped data) and frequencies
fi, N=∑fi,
σ2=N∑fixi2−(N∑fixi)2.
The coefficient of variation CV=xˉσ×100 compares
relative spread. Variance is unchanged by a shift of origin and scales as
a2 under x↦ax+b. For two groups combined, the pooled variance uses the
group means xˉ1,xˉ2 and the overall mean xˉ:
σ2=n1+n2n1(σ12+d12)+n2(σ22+d22) with …
Mean and variance (grouped data). Represent each class by its midpoint xi.
Midpoints: 15, 45, 75, 105, 135, 165, 195; N=30.
xˉ=N∑fixi=303210=107. …
Using class midpoints, the mean is 107 and the variance is 2276.
Because the data is grouped, each class is represented by its midpoint xi. We find the mean as a frequency-weighted average, then the variance as the frequency-weighted average of squared deviations from that mean.
Step 1 — Midpoints, total frequency, and ∑fixi.
Midpoints: 15, 45, 75, 105, 135, 165, 195.
| Class | fi | xi | fixi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–30 | 2 | 15 | 30 |
| 30–60 | 3 | 45 | 135 |
| 60–90 | 5 | 75 | 375 |
| 90–120 | 10 | 105 | 1050 |
| 120–150 | 3 | 135 | 405 |
| 150–180 | 5 | 165 | 825 |
| 180–210 | 2 | 195 | 390 |
| Total | 30 | 3210 |
Step 2 — Mean.
xˉ=N∑fixi=303210=107.
Step 3 — Squared deviations from the mean, weighted by frequency.
| xi | fi | xi−107 | (xi−107)2 | fi(xi−107)2 |
|---|---|---|---|---| …
Showing the 12 most recent of 17 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.If the median and mode of 4 observations are 4, 6 respectively and the sum of the squares of the observations is 48, then their coefficient of variation is (A) 1003 (B) 100/3 (C) 1002 (D) 100/5
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the empirical relation Mode =3 Median −2 Mean to pin down the mean, then use Σxi2 to get the variance and hence the coefficient of variation.
Concept and Intuition
For four raw numbers, the exact identity of "the mode" and "the median" don't leave enough information to reconstruct every individual observation — but statistics has a well-known empirical (approximate) relationship for moderately skewed distributions: Mean−Mode=3(Mean−Median), equivalently Mode=3Median−2Mean. This is exactly the tool such problems are testing: once you have the mean and the sum of squares, the variance and CV follow from the standard formulas without needing the raw data at all.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Empirical relation: Mode=3Median−2Mean.
- Substitute Median =4, Mode =6: 6=3(4)−2Mean=12−2Mean⇒2Mean=6⇒Mean=3.
- With n=4 observations, Mean =3⇒Σxi=12.
- Variance =n1Σxi2−(Mean)2=448−32=12−9=3.
- Standard deviation =3. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.The mean and variance of a discrete data xi(i=1,2,...15) are 35 and 10 respectively. The mean and variance of another discrete data yj(j=1,2,...10) are 15 and 5 respectively. If these two data are combined, then the variance of the obtained data of 25 items is (A) 20 (B) 75 (C) 104 (D) 82
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the combined-variance formula for two pooled datasets, which requires first finding the combined mean and then correcting each group's variance for how far its own mean sits from the combined mean.
Concept and Intuition
When two datasets are merged, you cannot simply average their variances — each group's spread must be measured about the new combined mean, not its own original mean. The correction term (xˉi−Xˉ)2 accounts for the extra spread introduced because each subgroup's mean itself differs from the overall mean.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Combined mean: Xˉ=n1+n2n1xˉ1+n2xˉ2=2515(35)+10(15)=25525+150=25675=27.
- Deviation of group 1's mean from combined mean: 35−27=8, squared =64.
- Deviation of group 2's mean from combined mean: 15−27=−12, squared =144. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The variance of the frequency distribution given below is Class interval: 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60 Frequency: 2, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3 (A) 264 (B) 88 (C) 84 (D) 90
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the step-deviation method for grouped data: compute di=(xi−A)/h, get the variance in d-units, then scale by h2; the variance is 264.
Concept and Intuition
For grouped/frequency data, working directly with large midpoint values is error-prone, so we shift to a convenient assumed mean A and scale by the class width h using di=(xi−A)/h. Variance transforms cleanly under this linear substitution: Var(x)=h2Var(d), where Var(d)=N∑fd2−(N∑fd)2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Midpoints: 5,15,25,35,45,55 for the six classes, with frequencies 2,2,3,4,1,3; N=2+2+3+4+1+3=15.
- Take A=35, h=10: d=10x−35 gives d=−3,−2,−1,0,1,2 respectively.
- fd: 2(−3)=−6, 2(−2)=−4, 3(−1)=−3, 4(0)=0, 1(1)=1, 3(2)=6. Sum =−6−4−3+0+1+6=−6.
- fd2: 2(9)=18, 2(4)=8, 3(1)=3, 4(0)=0, 1(1)=1, 3(4)=12. Sum =18+8+3+0+1+12=42. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The variance of the ungrouped data 2, 12, 3, 11, 5, 10, 6, 7 is (A) 11.875 (B) 11 (C) 12 (D) 10.765
›Reveal solutionSolution
Variance of ungrouped data is the mean of the squared deviations from the mean. Here the mean is 7 and the variance works out to 12.
Concept and Intuition
For ungrouped data x1,…,xn, variance =n1∑(xi−xˉ)2 where xˉ is the mean. It measures the average squared spread of the data around its centre.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Data: 2,12,3,11,5,10,6,7 (n=8).
- Mean: xˉ=82+12+3+11+5+10+6+7=856=7.
- Deviations from mean: −5,5,−4,4,−2,3,−1,0.
- Squared deviations: 25,25,16,16,4,9,1,0.
- Sum of squared deviations =25+25+16+16+4+9+1+0=96.
- Variance =896=12.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.Variance of the following discrete frequency distribution is Class Interval: 0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10 Frequency: 2, 3, 5, 3, 2 (A) 15463 (B) 15838 (C) 544 (D) 1588
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using midpoints and the shortcut formula Var=N∑fx2−(N∑fx)2 gives 1588.
Concept and Intuition
For a grouped/discrete frequency distribution, replace each class interval by its midpoint and treat it as a discrete random variable, then apply the standard variance formula.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Midpoints: 1,3,5,7,9 for the classes 0–2,…,8–10; frequencies 2,3,5,3,2; N=2+3+5+3+2=15.
- ∑fx=2(1)+3(3)+5(5)+3(7)+2(9)=2+9+25+21+18=75, so mean xˉ=1575=5.
- ∑fx2=2(1)+3(9)+5(25)+3(49)+2(81)=2+27+125+147+162=463. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.The mean and variance of the observations x1,x2,x3,…,x15 are respectively 2 and 4. If the mean and variance of the observations y1,y2,…,y10 are respectively 2 and 5, then the variance of the observations x1,x2,…x15,y1,y2,…,y10 is (A) 6.5 (B) 5.3 (C) 3.4 (D) 4.4
›Reveal solutionSolution
When two groups share the exact same mean, the variance of their pooled data is simply the sample-size-weighted average of the two individual variances — no cross-term correction is needed.
Concept and Intuition
In general, combining two data sets requires accounting for how far each group's own mean is from the overall combined mean (a "between-group spread" correction). But when both groups already share the same mean as each other (and hence as the combined data), that correction term is exactly zero, and the combined variance collapses to a simple weighted average of the two variances by sample size.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Group 1: n1=15, mean xˉ1=2, variance σ12=4.
- Group 2: n2=10, mean xˉ2=2, variance σ22=5.
- Since xˉ1=xˉ2=2, the combined mean is also 2 — no shift between groups' means and the pooled mean.
- General combined-variance formula: σ2=n1+n2n1σ12+n2(xˉ1−Xˉ)2+n2σ22+n2(xˉ2−Xˉ)2 — but since xˉ1=xˉ2=Xˉ=2, both shift terms are zero. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.Let x1,x2,…,x11 be the observations satisfying ∑i=111(xi−4)=22 and ∑i=111(xi−4)2=154. If the mean and variance of the observations are α and β, then the quadratic equation having the roots βα and αβ is (A) 15x2−16x+15=0 (B) 15x2−34x+15=0 (C) x2−16x+60=0 (D) 12x2−25x+20=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Shift-invariance of variance lets us compute the mean and variance directly from the given sums; the resulting quadratic in α/β,β/α is 15x2−34x+15=0.
Concept and Intuition
Variance is unaffected by shifting all observations by a constant, so working with di=xi−4 is exactly as good as working with xi directly — it just makes the arithmetic simpler.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let di=xi−4. Then ∑di=22 and ∑di2=154, over n=11 observations.
- Mean of x: xˉ=4+11∑di=4+2=6=α.
- Variance is shift-invariant, so β=Var(x)=Var(d)=11∑di2−(11∑di)2=14−4=10.
- Roots required: βα=106=53 and αβ=610=35. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.Variance of the following continuous frequency distribution is Class Interval: 0-4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-16 Frequency: 1, 2, 2, 1 (A) 16 (B) 344 (C) 23 (D) 322
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests computing variance of a grouped/continuous frequency distribution using class midpoints. Answer: 344.
Concept and Intuition
For a continuous frequency distribution we treat each class by its midpoint (the representative value) and compute mean and variance exactly as for discrete data, weighting by frequency. Variance measures the average squared deviation from the mean.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Midpoints of classes 0–4,4–8,8–12,12–16 are xi=2,6,10,14 with frequencies fi=1,2,2,1. Total N=∑fi=6.
- Mean: xˉ=N∑fixi=61(2)+2(6)+2(10)+1(14)=62+12+20+14=648=8.
- Deviations squared times frequency:
- x=2: (2−8)2=36, times f=1 → 36
- x=6: (6−8)2=4, times f=2 → 8
- x=10: (10−8)2=4, times f=2 → 8 …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.If i=1∑9(xi−5)=9 and i=1∑9(xi−5)2=45, then the standard deviation of the nine observations x1,x2,…,x9 is (A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 9
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests computing standard deviation from a shifted variable using ∑(xi−a) and ∑(xi−a)2. The standard deviation is 2.
Concept and Intuition
Standard deviation is shift-invariant: subtracting a constant from every observation doesn't change the spread. So working with di=xi−5 instead of xi directly is valid, and the variance formula Var=n∑di2−(n∑di)2 applies exactly as it would to the xi themselves.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let di=xi−5 for i=1,…,9. Given ∑di=9 and ∑di2=45.
- Mean of d: dˉ=9∑di=99=1. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.If the mean of the data 7,8,9,7,8,7,λ,8 is 8 then variance of the data (A) 2 (B) 87 (C) 89 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
First find λ=10 from the mean condition, then compute variance directly; the answer is 1.
Concept and Intuition
With the mean given, we can first solve for the unknown λ, then compute the variance as the average squared deviation from that mean over all 8 data points.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Known values: 7,8,9,7,8,7,8 (seven of them, excluding λ). Sum =7+8+9+7+8+7+8=54.
- With λ included there are 8 values, and mean =8, so total sum =8×8=64.
- λ=64−54=10.
- Full data set: 7,8,9,7,8,7,10,8.
- Deviations from mean (8): −1,0,1,−1,0,−1,2,0.
- Squared deviations: 1,0,1,1,0,1,4,0; sum =1+0+1+1+0+1+4+0=8.
- Variance =n∑(x−xˉ)2=88=1.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The mean and variance of 'n' observations x1,x2,x3,…,xn are 5 and 0 respectively. If ∑i=1nxi2=400, then the value of 'n' is equal to (A) 80 (B) 25 (C) 20 (D) 16
›Reveal solutionSolution
Zero variance means zero spread — every data value equals the mean — which converts the sum-of-squares condition directly into an equation for n.
Concept and Intuition
Variance measures deviation from the mean; a variance of exactly 0 is only possible if every single observation is identical to the mean value. This turns a statistics problem into simple algebra.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given mean xˉ=5 and variance =0.
- Variance =n1∑xi2−xˉ2=0⇒n1∑xi2=xˉ2=25.
- So ∑xi2=25n.
- Given ∑xi2=400, so 25n=400⇒n=16. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-FN1 markMCQQ.The variance of the variates 112,116,120,125,132 about their A.M is (A) 58.8 (B) 60 (C) 48.8 (D) 61.8
›Reveal solutionSolution
Variance about the mean is the average of squared deviations from the mean; here it computes to 48.8.
Concept and Intuition
Variance measures the average squared spread of data around its own mean. The procedure is always: find the mean, subtract it from each value, square each deviation, then average those squares.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Sum of data: 112+116+120+125+132=605. Mean =5605=121.
- Deviations from mean: 112−121=−9, 116−121=−5, 120−121=−1, 125−121=4, 132−121=11.
- Squares of deviations: 81,25,1,16,121.
- Sum of squares: 81+25+1+16+121=244. …
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.