How to Draw a Cumulative Frequency Distribution Table

Descriptive statistics, The basics 11 Comments

In elementary statistics, you might be given a histogram and asked to determine the cumulative frequency. Or, you might be given a frequency distribution table and asked to find the cumulative frequency. The method for both is the same, and the answer can be found in a couple of easy steps.

Sample question: Build a cumulative frequency table for the following classes.

cumulative frequency 1

  • Step 1: If you have a histogram, go to step 2. If you have a frequency distribution table (or both), go to Step 3.
  • Step 2: Build a frequency distribution table, like the one to the right of the histogram above. Label column 1 with your class limits. In column 2, count the number of items in each class and fill the columns in as shown above. To fill in the columns, count how many items are in each class, using the histogram.
  • Step 3:Label a new column in your frequency distribution table “Cumulative frequency” and compute the first two entries. The first entry will be the same as the first entry in the frequency column. The second entry will be the sum of the first two entries in the frequency column (highlighted in red).

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY 2

  • Step 4: Fill in the rest of the cumulative frequency column.  The third entry will be the sum of the first three entries in the frequency column, the fourth will be the sum of the first four entries in the frequency column etc.

Cumulative Frequency 3

  • You’re done!

Related posts:

  1. How to Graph a Cumulative Frequency Table on the TI-89 Calculator
  2. How to Graph a TI 83 Cumulative Frequency Table
  3. How to Draw a Frequency Distribution Table
  4. How to make a frequency chart and determine frequency
  5. How to solve a question about probability frequency distribution
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11 Responses to “How to Draw a Cumulative Frequency Distribution Table”

  1. Angie Widdows said:

    Sep 22, 09 at 6:36 pm

    I can say that I understand the concept of a histogram but I am still having a little trouble with this concept. I guess what I really do not understnad is the concept of cumulative freqency. What is the reason for needing to know this. I guess I am having a hard time relating it to real life. I think I will keep checking back to this post to see anyone else’s comments. Possibly, something they might add would help me.

  2. Stephanie said:

    Sep 23, 09 at 5:24 am

    There are literally thousands of real life applications, from cancer statistics to immigration and the stock market. However, when you’re just starting to learn about cumulative frequency, rather than present you with, say, financial market statistics (which can look ominous–just pick up a copy of the Wall Street Journal!) or cancer statistics (which even confuse doctors! see this article–You’re Not The Only One Confused About Probability–where 95% of physicians got the answer to a question about the probability of breast cancer wrong–) we use simplified examples (like cards and dice rolling).

  3. Lauren Schultz said:

    Sep 28, 09 at 1:29 pm

    This helped me out alot. I always had trouble in decifering which chart used the class limits and which ones used the class boundaries. This led me through step by step with pics, which helped alot, and helped me out alot on my homework.

  4. Mark McCrea said:

    Sep 30, 09 at 2:46 pm

    I can see how a histogram can relate to life. The histogram can be us to the growth of the population, marketing is function from year to year, and can even use in how much food has been grown in the pass year.

  5. Lisa Barcomb said:

    Oct 25, 09 at 6:34 pm

    I see that a histogram can relate to our everyday living in life. A histogram can be used for many things in life such as; the population, counting the numbers, seeing how many people cheat on their taxes etc. This is a good thing to know and when the diagram is there and you are actually working with it, it really does help you a lot.

  6. Lisa Barcomb said:

    Nov 12, 09 at 7:44 pm

    Yeah this part of statistics was enjoyable, because it helped when we had the diagrams and it explained everything really clear so since we are beginning learners of statistics this was a big help and I am speaking for myself.

  7. Vanessa DuBarry said:

    Dec 14, 09 at 9:39 pm

    This example really helps and its good to know that histograms are used in every day life.

  8. Statistics How To» Blog Archive » How to Graph a Cumulative Frequency Table on the TI-89 Calculator said:

    Jan 16, 10 at 11:16 am

    [...] frequency. The steps to finding the cumulative frequencies by hand can be found in this article (How to Draw a Cumulative Frequency Table). On a TI-89 Titanium, it will take you a minute or two (the amount of time it takes you to punch [...]

  9. crystal lydick said:

    May 04, 10 at 10:14 am

    This page helped me so much!!

  10. Hugh said:

    Jan 20, 11 at 5:55 pm

    Quality explanation and walkthrough of an important basic concept :)

  11. chenie bawisan said:

    Mar 05, 11 at 11:30 pm

    it’s quit easy, but putting the histogram made my head spin.,

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