Estimating the Mean

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Estimating The Mean

When we’re dealing with information displayed in a grouped frequency table, it’s impossible for us to calculate the actual mean because we don’t know each of the individual values. So, instead, we try our best to estimate the mean.

How to Estimate the Mean

The method for estimating the mean can be outlined as follows:

Step 1. Add a new column to the table writing down the midpoint (middle value) of each group.

Step 2. Multiply each midpoint by the frequency of that group and add the results in a new column..

Step 3. Add the values in the midpoint ×textcolor{red}times frequency column.

Step 4. Divide that value by the total frequency to get the estimate of the mean.

Remember, it is just an estimate. The actual mean could be noticeably different.

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Example 1: Estimating the Mean

Mean Table for Playing Time
Mean Table for Playing Time

Cindy asked a collection of people how many hours they spent playing video games in the last week. Her results are shown in the table below.

Estimate the mean number of hours spent playing video games from Cindy’s sample.

[4 marks]

Step 1: First we need to calculate the midpoint of each class.

To do this we would add together the upper and lower value of the class and divide by 22. e.g.

16+202=362=18dfrac{16+20}{2} = dfrac{36}{2} = 18

Step 2: Now we multiply the frequency by the midpoint for each row. It’s helpful to write the result in a new column.

New Column for Mean Table

Step 3: We now sum the frequency column, to get the total number of people asked, and get:

12+18+19+6+2=5712 + 18 + 19 + 6 + 2 = textcolor{red}{57}

and sum the f×mf times m column, and get

24+108+190+84+36=44224 + 108 + 190 + 84 + 36 = textcolor{red}{442}

Step 4: Now we have all of these values, we can estimate the mean by dividing the sum of f×mf times m by the total number of people Cindy asked:

estimated mean=44257text{estimated mean} = dfrac{textcolor{red}{442}}{textcolor{red}{57}}

Putting this (carefully) into a calculator, we get our answer:

estimated mean =7.75 hourstext{estimated mean }=textcolor{red}{7.75text{ hours}}

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Grouped frequency table for weight
Grouped frequency table for weight

Example 2: Estimating the Mean

The grouped frequency table shows data on the weights of 117117 cats. Calculate an estimate for the mean weight of the cats.

[4 marks]

As before, we need to note down the midpoints of each group.

We do this by adding the maximum and minimum in each class and dividing the result by 22.

Doing this for the last group we find,

4.5+62=10.52=5.25dfrac{4.5 + 6}{2}= dfrac{10.5}{2} = 5.25

We then multiply each midpoint by it’s frequency and add them all together and divide by the total frequency.

New Column for Grouped Frequency Table

The total number of cats is 117textcolor{red}{117}, and the sum of the f×mftimes m column is

55+45.5+146.25+123.25+68.25=438.2555 + 45.5 + 146.25 + 123.25 + 68.25 = textcolor{red}{438.25}

Therefore, we calculate the estimated mean to be,

438.25117 =3.7 kgdfrac{textcolor{red}{438.25}}{textcolor{red}{117}}  = textcolor{red}{3.7 text{ kg}} (11dp)

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Estimating the Mean Example Questions

Question 1: For several weeks, Adam makes a note of how long it takes him to get to school.

The results are shown in the table below:

 

Mean Table for Journey Time

 

To the nearest minute, find an estimate of the mean time it takes Adam to get to school.

[4 marks]

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The first thing we need to do is add an additional midpoint column to our table.  Since we have a range of journey times, we have to assume that all journeys are exactly in the middle of the range.  This is probably not the case in reality, which is why this is an estimated mean rather than the actual mean.

 

The first midpoint, the point which is half-way between 00 minutes and 1010 minutes, is 55 minutes.  If you are unsure how to calculate a midpoint, add up the two values and divide by 22:

 

0+102=5dfrac{0 + 10}{2}=5

 

Once you have calculated all the midpoints, you should have a table that looks like the table below:

 

Answers to Mean Table for Journey Time

 

We then need to multiply the frequency of each group by its midpoint.  This will give us the estimated total journey time for the number of journeys completed within each range of journey time.

 

2×5 minutes=10 minutes2times5text{ minutes}= 10text{ minutes}

 

45×15 minutes=675 minutes45times15text{ minutes}= 675text{ minutes}

 

25×25 minutes=625 minutes25times25text{ minutes}= 625text{ minutes}

 

3×35 minutes=105 minutes3times35text{ minutes}= 105text{ minutes}

 

We then need to add up all these new values.   This will give us the estimated total journey time for all of the journeys completed.

 

10 minutes+675 minutes+625 minutes+105 minutes=1415 minutes10text{ minutes}+675text{ minutes}+625text{ minutes}+105text{ minutes} = 1415text{ minutes}

 

This means that the total estimated journey time was 14151415 minutes.  By adding up the frequency column, we know that 7575 journeys were completed (2+45+25+3=75 journeys)(2+45+25+3=75text{ journeys}).  Since there were 7575 journeys with an estimated total time of 14151415 minutes, then the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

1415 minutes75 journeys=19 minutes to the nearest minutedfrac{1415 text{ minutes}}{75text{ journeys}} = 19 text{ minutes to the nearest minute}

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Question 2: Emily is overseeing a long jump competition at her school.

 

The results of all the students’ long jumps are compiled in the table below:

 

Mean Table for Distance

 

 

To the nearest centimetre, find an estimate of the mean distance achieved in this long jump competition.

[4 marks]

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The first thing we need to do is add an additional midpoint column to our table.  Since we have a range of long jump distances, we are assuming that all jumps are exactly in the middle of the range.  This is probably not the case in reality, which is why this is an estimated mean rather than the actual mean.

 

The first midpoint, the point which is half-way between 00 cm and 5050 cm, is 2525 cm.  If you are unsure how to calculate a midpoint, add up the two values and divide by 22:

 

0+502=25dfrac{0 + 50}{2}=25

 

Once you have calculated all the midpoints, you should have a table that looks like the table below:

 

Mean Table for Distance Answers

 

We then need to multiply the frequency of each group by its midpoint.  This will give us the estimated total jump length for the number of jumps completed within each range of jump length.

 

2×25cm=50cm2times25text{cm}= 50text{cm}

 

18×75cm=1,350cm18times75text{cm}= 1,350text{cm}

 

56×125cm=7,000cm56times125text{cm}= 7,000text{cm}

 

32×175cm=5,600cm32times175text{cm}= 5,600text{cm}

 

8×225cm=1,800cm8times225text{cm}= 1,800text{cm}

 

We then need to add up all these new values.   This will give us the estimated total jump length for all of the jumps completed.

 

50cm+1,350cm+7,000cm+5,600cm+1,800cm=15,800cm50text{cm}+1,350text{cm} +7,000text{cm} +5,600text{cm} +1,800text{cm} =15,800text{cm}

 

This means that the total estimated jump length was 15,80015,800 cm.  By adding up the frequency column, we know that 118118 jumps were completed (4+18+56+32+8=118 jumps)(4+18+56+32+8=118text{ jumps}).  Since there were 118118 jumps with an estimated total jump length of 15,80015,800 cm, then the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

15,800cm118 jumps=134cm to the nearest cmdfrac{15,800 text{cm}}{118text{ jumps}} = 134 text{cm to the nearest cm}

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Question 3: Below is a grouped frequency table of data collected on the lengths of students’ journeys to school:

 

Mean Table for TIme

 

To the nearest minute, find an estimate for the mean of this data.

[4 marks]

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The first thing we need to do is add an additional midpoint column to our table.  Since we have a range of journey times, we are assuming that all journeys are exactly in the middle of the range.  This is probably not the case in reality, which is why this is an estimated mean rather than the actual mean.

 

The first midpoint, the point which is half-way between 00  minutes and 1010 minutes, is 55 minutes.  If you are unsure how to calculate a midpoint, add up the two values and divide by 22.  For example, working out the midpoint in the 32324545 minute range is not that easy:

 

32+452=38.5dfrac{32 + 45}{2}=38.5

 

Once you have calculated all the midpoints, you should have a table that looks like the table below:

 

Mean Table for Time Answers

 

We then need to multiply the frequency of each group by its midpoint.  This will give us the estimated total journey time for the number of journeys completed within each range of journey time.

 

12×5 minutes=60 minutes12times5text{ minutes}= 60text{ minutes}

 

18×12 minutes=216 minutes18times12text{ minutes}= 216text{ minutes}

 

34×17 minutes=578 minutes34times17text{ minutes}= 578text{ minutes}

 

33×26 minutes=858 minutes33times26text{ minutes}= 858text{ minutes}

 

19×38.5 minutes=731.5 minutes19times38.5text{ minutes}= 731.5text{ minutes}

 

We then need to add up all these new values.   This will give us the estimated total journey time for all of the journeys completed.

 

60 minutes+216 minutes+578 minutes+858 minutes+731.5 minutes=2443.5 minutes60text{ minutes}+216text{ minutes}+578text{ minutes}+858text{ minutes}+731.5text{ minutes} = 2443.5text{ minutes}

 

This means that the total estimated journey time was 2443.52443.5 minutes.  By adding up the frequency column, we know that 116116 journeys were completed (12+18+34+33+19=116 journeys).(12+18+34+33+19=116text{ journeys}).  Since there were 116116 journeys with an estimated total time of 2443.52443.5 minutes, then the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

2443.5 minutes116 journeys=21 minutes to the nearest minutedfrac{2443.5 text{ minutes}}{116text{ journeys}} = 21 text{ minutes to the nearest minute}

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Question 4: Simon and Steve went on a 22-day fishing expedition and took note of the lengths of all the fish they caught.  The data is shown in the table below:

 

Mean Table for the Length of Fish

 

a)  To the nearest cm, find an estimated mean for the data.

[4 marks]

 

b)  What would the estimated mean be if the 66 biggest fish were not included in the data?

[2 marks]

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a)  The first thing we need to do is add an additional midpoint column to our table.  Since we have a range of fish size lengths, we are assuming that all fish caught fall exactly in the middle of the range.  This is probably not the case in reality, which is why this is an estimated mean rather than the actual mean.

 

The first midpoint, the point which is half-way between 00 cm and 2020 cm, is 1010 cm.  If you are unsure how to calculate a midpoint, add up the two values and divide by 22.  For example, working out the midpoint in the 9090300300 cm is not that easy:

 

90+3002=195dfrac{90 + 300}{2}=195

 

Once you have calculated all the midpoints, you should have a table that looks like the table below:

 

Mean Table for Lengths of Fish Answers

 

We then need to multiply the frequency of each group by its midpoint.  This will give us the estimated total fish length for the number of fish caught within each range of fish length.

 

16×10cm=160 cm16times10text{cm}= 160text{ cm}

 

27×25cm=675 cm27times25text{cm}= 675text{ cm}

 

9×40cm=360 cm9times40text{cm}= 360text{ cm}

 

13×60cm=780 cm13times60text{cm}= 780text{ cm}

 

8×80cm=640 cm8times80text{cm}= 640text{ cm}

 

6×195cm=1,170 cm6times195text{cm}= 1,170text{ cm}

 

We then need to add up all these new values.   This will give us the estimated total length for all of the fish caught.

 

160 cm+675 cm+360 cm+7,800 cm+640 cm+1,170 cm=10,805 cm160text{ cm}+675text{ cm}+360text{ cm}+7,800text{ cm}+640text{ cm}+1,170text{ cm}=10,805text{ cm}

 

This means that the estimated total length of all the fish caught was 10,80510,805 cm.  By adding up the frequency column, we know that 7979 fish were caught (16+27+9+13+8+6=79 fish caught.)(16+27+9+13+8+6=79text{ fish caught}.)  Since there were 7979 fish caught with an estimated combined length of 10,80510,805 cm, then the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

10,805 cm79 fish=137 cm to the nearest cmdfrac{10,805 text{ cm}}{79text{ fish}} = 137text{ cm to the nearest cm}

 

b)  If we do not take into consideration the 66 fish that were in the 9030090 – 300 cm category, then the total number of fish caught is reduced from 7979 to 7373.

 

The estimated total length of all the 7979 fish caught was 10,80510,805 cm.  We need to subtract the 66 fish in the 9030090 – 300 cm category:

 

10,805 cm(6×196 cm)=9,629 cm10,805text{ cm} – (6 times 196text{ cm}) = 9,629 text{ cm}

 

Therefore, excluding the 66 biggest fish, the estimated total length of the other 7373 fish was 9,6299,629 cm.  The estimated mean can therefore be calculated as follows:

 

9,629 cm73 fish=132 cm to the nearest cmdfrac{9,629 text{ cm}}{73text{ fish}} = 132text{ cm to the nearest cm}

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Question 5: Suzanna and Flolella are organising a charity event which involves throwing darts at a board to see how many times a participant can hit the bullseye in a 1010-minute period.

 

Suzanna compiles the data in the table below:

 

Mean Table for the Number of Hits

a)  According to Suzanna, what is the estimated mean number of bullseyes hit in the 1010-minute period?  Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

[4 marks]

b)  Flolella compiles the data differently to Suzanna by organising the data in batches of 2020 hits instead of batches of 1010 hits.  What does Flolella’s data table look like, and how does it affect the estimated mean when she calculates it to the nearest whole number?

[3 marks]

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a)  The first thing we need to do is add an additional midpoint column to our table.  Since we have a range of number of bullseyes hit, we are assuming that the number of bullseyes hit by each participant falls exactly in the middle of the range.  This is probably not the case in reality, which is why this is an estimated mean rather than the actual mean.

 

The first midpoint, the point which is half-way between 00 cm and 1010 cm, is 55 cm.  If you are unsure how to calculate a midpoint, add up the two values and divide by 22.  In this table, the midpoints are all quite easy to calculate .

 

Once you have calculated all the midpoints, you should have a table that looks like the table below:

 

Mean Table for the Number of Hits Answers

We then need to multiply the frequency of each group by its midpoint.  This will give us the estimated total number of bullseyes hit by participants who fall into this category.

 

3×5 hits=15 hits3times5text{ hits}= 15text{ hits}

 

25×15 hits=375 hits25times15text{ hits}= 375text{ hits}

 

28×25 hits=700 hits28times25text{ hits}= 700text{ hits}

 

19×35 hits=665 hits19times35text{ hits}= 665text{ hits}

 

8×45 hits=360 hits8times45text{ hits}= 360text{ hits}

 

2×55 hits=110 hits2times55text{ hits}= 110text{ hits}

 

 

We then need to add up all these new values.   This will give us the estimated total number of times the bullseye was hit.

 

15 hits+375 hits+700 hits+665 hits+360 hits+110 hits=2,225 hits15text{ hits}+375text{ hits}+700text{ hits}+665text{ hits}+360text{ hits}+110text{ hits}=2,225text{ hits}

 

This means that the estimated total number of bullseyes hit was 2,2252,225.  By adding up the frequency column, we know that there was a total of 8585 participants (3+25+28+19+8+2=85 participants.)(3+25+28+19+8+2=85text{ participants}.)  Since there were 8585 participants with an estimated total of 2,2252,225 bullseyes hit, then the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

2,225 bullseyes hit85 participants=26 hits to the nearest whole numberdfrac{2,225 text{ bullseyes hit}}{85text{ participants}} = 26text{ hits to the nearest whole number}

 

 

b)  By organising the data in batches of 2020 hits, rather than batches of 1010 hits, each row in Flolella’s table will combine 22 of Suzanna’s rows, so the table will be half the size.  It will look as follows:

 

 

In order to calculate the estimated mean, we will need to work out new midpoints, as follows:

 

 

Using Flolella’s table, the estimated mean can be calculated as follows:

 

(28×10)+(47×30)+(10×50)85=26 hitsdfrac{(28times10) + (47times30) + (10times 50)}{85}=26text{ hits}

 

When the answer is rounded to the nearest whole number, the estimated mean is the same.

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Specification Points Covered

2. interpret and construct tables, charts and diagrams, including frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts and pictograms for categorical data, vertical line charts for ungrouped discrete numerical data, tables and line graphs for time series data and know their appropriate use

3. construct and interpret diagrams for grouped discrete data and continuous data, i.e. histograms with equal and unequal class intervals and cumulative frequency graphs, and know their appropriate use

4. interpret, analyse and compare the distributions of data sets from univariate empirical distributions through:

  • appropriate graphical representation involving discrete, continuous and grouped data, including box plots
  • appropriate measures of central tendency (median, mean, mode and modal class) and spread (range, including consideration of outliers, quartiles and inter-quartile range)

5. apply statistics to describe a population

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