18 ORGANIZING DATA [CHAP.

EXAMPLE 2.7 Group the following weights into the classes 100 to under 125, 125 to under 150, and so forth:
111 120 127 129 130 145 145 150 153 155 160
161 165 167 170 171 174 175 177 179 180 180
185 185 190 I95 I95 201 210 220 224 225 230
245 248

The weights I 1 1 and 120 are tallied into the class 100 to under 125. The weights 127, 129, 130, 145 and 145 are
tallied into the class 125 to under 150 and so forth until the frequencies for all classes are found. The frequency
distribution for these weights is given in Table 2.7

Weight Frequency
100 to under 125 2
125 to under 150 5
150 to under 175 10
175 to under 200 10
200 to under 225 4
225 to under 250 4

When a frequency distribution is given in this form, the class limits and class boundaries may be considered to be
the same. The class marks are 1 12.5, 137.5, 162.5, 187.5, 212.5, and 237.5. The class width is 25.

EXAMPLE 2.8 The price thr 500 aspirin tablets is determined for each of twenty randomly selected stores as
part of a larger consuiiier study. 'The prices are as follows:

2.50 2.95 2.65 3.10 3.15 3.05 3.05 2.60 2.70 2.75
2.80 2.80 2.85 2.80 3.00 3.00 2.90 2.90 2.85 2.85

Suppose we wish to group these data into seven classes. Since the maximum price is 3.15 and the minimum price
is 2.50, the spread in prices is 0.65. Each class should then have a width equal to approximately 117 of 0.65 or
.093. There is it lot o f flexibility in choosing the classes while following the guidelines given above. Table 2.8
shows the results i f a class width equal to 0.10 is selected and the first class begins at the minimum price.

Table 2.8
Price 'Tally Frequency
2.50 to 2.59 I 1
2.60 t o 2.69 11 2
2.70 to 2.79 2
2.80 to 2.89
2.90 to 2.99
%,
/I/
6
3
3.00 t o 3.09 1/11 4
3.10 to 3.19 11 2

The frequency distribution might also be given in a form such as that shown in Table 2.9. The two different
ways of expressing the classes shown in Tables 2.8 and 2.9 will result in the same frequencies.

Table 2.9
Price Frequency
2.50 to less than 2.60 1
2.60 to less than 2.70 2
2.70 to less than 2.80 2
2.80 to less than 2.90 6
2.90 to less than 3.00 35
3.00 to less than 3.10 4
7
3.10 to less than 3.20