6.3. The Mode http://www.ck12.org
Example 3:Find the mode of the following:
8, 7, 6, 5, 8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 7, 8, 6, 7, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 6, 7, 7, 5, 8, 5, 5, 6, 8, 6, 5, 5, 7, 7
Solution:
TABLE6.14:
Number Tally Frequency
5 H//////HH 7
6 H////////HH 9
7 H////HHH//////HH 12
8 H//////HH 7The mode of the numbers is obvious from the tally chart. The mode of the data is 7 since it is repeated the most. If
we return to the problem about hand spans, a person making gloves for the winter Olympics would be interested in
the measure of 7^34 inches since it is the most common measurement of the group.
Lesson Summary
Although there are no mathematical calculations involved in determining the mode of a data set, it is still an important
measure of central tendency. The mode is often used in everyday life by businesses and people who are concerned
about the most popular or most common item in a data set. If you are operating a deli and you offer ten different
sandwiches, you will make sure that you have all the ingredients for the one that you sell the most. Clothing stores
also operate their business to include the most popular apparel. The mode helps many people in many walks of life
to be successful –all based on the one that appears the most often.
Points to Consider
- Is the mode referred to in any other area of statistics?
Review Questions
- A class of students recorded their shoe sizes and the results are as follows:
8 , 5 , 8 , 5 , 7 , 6 , 7 , 7 , 5 , 7 , 5 , 5 , 6 , 6 , 9 , 8 , 9 , 7 , 9 , 9 , 6 , 8 , 6 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 7 , 9 , 5 , 6What size represents the mode?- In a local hockey league, the goals scored by all the teams during a weekend tournament were:
4 , 1 , 0 , 7 , 6 , 3 , 2 , 2 , 1 , 7 , 4 , 0 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 6 , 0 , 3 , 6 , 5 , 2 , 7 , 5 , 3 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 6What is the mode for the goals scored during the tournament?- Two dice are thrown together 20 times and the results are shown below:
TABLE6.15:
Score of The Roll Frequency
2 1
3 1
4 3
5 1
6 3
7 3
8 4