The following table gives the frequency distribution of married women by age at marriage
Calculate the median and interpret the results.
Age(in years) Frequency Age(in years) Frequency
15-19 53 40-44 9
20-24 140 45-49 5
25-29 98 50-54 3
30-34 32 55-59 3
35-39 12 60 and above 2
Answers
The median is and 23.98 interpret the result is that, nearly half of the women were married between the ages 15 and 25.
Age Class interval Frequency Cumulative frequency
(in years) (cont) (f) (cf)
15-19 14.5-19.5 53 53
20-24 19.5-24.5 140 140+53=193
25-29 24.5-29.5 98 98+193=291
30-34 29.5-34.5 32 291+32=323
35-39 34.5-39.5 12 323+12=335
40-44 39.5-44.5 9 335+9=344
45-49 44.5-49.5 5 344+5=349
50-54 49.5-54.5 3 349+3=352
55-59 54.5-59.5 3 352+3=355
60 and above 59.5 and above 2 355+2=357
N=357
N/2 = 357/2 = 178.5
The cf just greater than N/2 = 178.5 is 193, with a class interval of 19.5-24.5
l = 19.5 lower class limit of modal class
f = 140 frequency of modal class
F = 53 frequency of interval before modal class
h = 24.5-19.5 = 5 range/ height
= 19.5 + [ (178.5 - 53) / 140 ] * 5
= 19.5 + 125.5 / 140 * 5
= 19.5 + 4.48
= 23.98
Interpretation of result: Nearly half of the women were married between the ages 15 and 25.