The modal class
The mode is the most common value. A grouped table hides the single values. It shows only a count for each class.
- Five bars, one per class.
- The tallest row named f1, its neighbours f0 and f2.
- The mode, 34, marked between them.
The lean
Here are 45 made-up readings, in minutes played.
| Minutes played | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 10-20 | 6 |
| 20-30 | 11 |
| 30-40 | 15 |
| 40-50 | 9 |
| 50-60 | 4 |
The class 30-40 has the highest frequency, 15. It is the modal class. The mode is a number inside it. The neighbours decide where. They are the classes just before and just after it. The class below has 11 and the class above has 9. The lower neighbour is taller. So the mode leans down: it sits nearer 30 than 40.
The formula has five letters. l = 30 is the lower bound of the modal class. f₁ = 15 is its frequency. f₀ = 11 is the frequency of the class before it. f₂ = 9 is the frequency of the class after it. h = 10 is the class width. All classes must have the same width.
Mode = l + ((f₁ − f₀) ÷ (2f₁ − f₀ − f₂)) × h.
Mode = 30 + ((15 − 11) ÷ (30 − 11 − 9)) × 10 = 34.
Step by step: 15 − 11 = 4. And 2 × 15 − 11 − 9 = 10. Then 4 ÷ 10 × 10 = 4. So 30 + 4 = 34.
The modal class is the class with the highest frequency. Mode = l + ((f₁ − f₀) ÷ (2f₁ − f₀ − f₂)) × h.
If two classes tie for the highest frequency, the data is bimodal. Such a table has no single modal class.
Slide f₂ and watch the mode move.
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