CHAMPION TUTORS
Friday, 15th October, 2021.
STATISTICS
Statistics deals with the representation and determination of some parameters of data
Because this topic is not strange to anyone, no formalities are needed. Let’s cut to the chase:
In the post utme, there is a limited scope in statistics to which questions are asked, and they don’t
go beyond 6 major areas:
1. Mean
2. Median
3. Mode
4. Mean Deviation
5. Standard deviation
6. Pie Charts
(Noted that mean, Median, Mode, mean deviation and Standard deviation questions asked in the
post utme pertain to UNGROUPED DATA)
MEAN/AVERAGE
The mean of a set of values of a data is given by:
mean = sum of all the values / number of values
Basically, what mean requires of you is to sum up all the values you see and then divide it by the
number of values
Example 1
Calculate the mean of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
Solution
Mean = Sum of all the values/number of values
Mean = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 / 8
= 36 / 8
= 4.5
Example 2
Compute the average of 41, 45, 52, 54, 57 and 60
Solution
Recall, average is same as mean
Mean/Average = Sum of all the values / number of values
Average = 41 + 45 + 52 + 54 + 57 + 60 / 6
= 309 / 6
= 51.5
Example 3
If the mean of 21, 13, 17, 15, x and 17 is 15. What is the value of x?
Solution
Recall, Mean = Sum of all the values / number of values
We treat x as a value as well, we get an algebraic equation and we solve it to get the value of x
(Mean = 15)
Therefore, Mean = 21 + 13 + 17 + 15 + x + 17 / 6
15 = 21 + 13 + 17 + 15 + x + 17 / 6
15 = 83 + x / 6
Cross multiply
15 × 6 = 83 + x
90 = 83 + x
83 + x = 90
x = 90 – 83
x=7
MEDIAN
Median is the middle number of a data set after arrangement in ascending or descending order of
magnitude. (As straightforward as that)
So, all you need to do is arrange the data set before you (preferably in ascending order I.e from
smallest to largest) and then pick out the middle number.
If you have an ODD number of values, you will have only one Middle value. Pick it out
If you have an EVEN number of values, you will have two Middle values. Add them up and divide it
by 2. That’s your Median
Example 1
In Agidingbi Grammar school, the scores of 11 students in class A of JS 1 in a particular test are given
as follows;
41, 45, 42, 39, 51, 22, 53, 55, 60, 31 and 51
Find the Median score
Solution
41, 45, 42, 39, 51, 22, 53, 55, 60, 31, 51
We arrange in ascending order first
22, 31, 39, 41, 42, 45, 51, 51, 53, 55, 60
We then pick the middle value:
45 is the middle value. Hence, Median = 45
Example 2
What is the median of 23, 24, 11, 25, 18, 17, 31 and 22?
Solution
23, 24, 11, 25, 18, 17, 31 and 22
We arrange in ascending order
11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 31
We then pick the middle values:
22 and 23 are the middle values
Therefore, Median = 22 + 23 / 2
= 45 / 2
= 22.5
Example 3
The accumulation of goals scored by a particular football team over the course of 9 years in a league
is given by:
59, 101, 68, 92, 57, 88, 50, 99 and 71
By how much is the median of the data set greater than 55?
Solution
59, 101, 68, 92, 57, 88, 50, 99 and 71
We arrange in ascending order
50, 57, 59, 68, 71, 88, 92, 99 and 101
We pick the middle value
Therefore, Median = 71
But question says, by how much is the median of the data set greater than 55?
By how much is 71 greater than 55?
That is 71 – 55
= 16
MODE
Mode refers to the data set with the highest frequency (highest occurence)
When you look at the values in the data set you are given, the value that occurs the most refers to
the mode
Example 1
15, 19, 17, 18, 21, 33, 18, 33, 16, 12, 15, 33, 47 and 33
In the data set above, find the mode
Solution
15, 19, 17, 18, 21, 33, 18, 33, 16, 12, 15, 33, 47 and 33
The mode is 33 because it has the highest frequency (it occurs the most – 4 times)
Example 2
The number of schools in several districts of a particular state are given as follows:
2, 3, 5, 5, 3, 1, 10, 7, 5, 4, 5, and 3
What is the mode?
Solution
2, 3, 5, 5, 3, 1, 10, 7, 5, 4, 5, and 3
The mode is 5 (because it has the highest frequency - 4 times)
MEAN DEVIATION
How to get the mean deviation of a data set
1. Calculate the mean of the data set before you.
2. Then, create a table with rows and columns
3. Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values in
the data set in that column
4. Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found
from the corresponding value of x at the left column
5. Call the third and final column |x – mean|. This column turns whatever value you have in
the left column for x – mean to positive. For example, a value of -5 in the ‘x – mean’ column
will turn to 5 and a value of 7 in the ‘x – mean’ column will remain as 7 (positive)
6. Get the sum of everything in the |x – mean| column. This is called:
7. Use your mean deviation formula by substituting all you need
Let’s put this to the test...
Example 1
Find the mean deviation of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Solution
(Calculate the mean first)
Mean = Sum of all values / number of values
=1+2+3+4+5/5
= 15 / 5
=3
(Then, create a table with rows and columns)
(Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values in the
data set in that column)
(Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found from the
corresponding value of x at the left column)
(Call the third and final column |x – mean|. This column turns whatever value you have in the left
column for x – mean to positive)
(Get the sum of everything in the |x – mean| column)
(Use your mean deviation formula )
Hence, mean deviation = 1.2
So simple right? Let’s take another example...
Example 2
Find the mean deviation of 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 8
Solution
(Calculate the mean first)
Mean = 2 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 8 + 8 / 6
Mean = 33 / 6
Mean = 5.5
(Then, create a table with rows and columns)
((Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values in the
data set in that column)
(Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found from the
corresponding value of x at the left column)
(Call the third and final column |x – mean|. This column turns whatever value you have in the left
column for x – mean to positive)
(Get the sum of everything in the |x – mean| column)
(Use the mean deviation formula)
Hence, mean deviation = 2.167
STANDARD DEVIATION
How to get the standard deviation of a data set
1. Calculate the mean of the data set before you.
2. Then, create a table with rows and columns
3. Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values in
the data set in that column
4. Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found
from the corresponding value of x at the left column
5. Call the third and final column (x – mean)². This column will square whatever value you have
in the ‘x – mean’ column
6. Find the summation of everything in the (x – mean)² column. It is called:
7. Use the standard deviation formula
Let’s try this out:
Example 1
Find the standard deviation of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10
Solution
(Calculate the mean of the data set before you)
Mean = Sum of all values / number of values
Mean = 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 / 5
Mean = 30/5
Mean = 6
(Then, create a table with rows and columns)
(Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values
in the data set in that column)
(Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found
from the corresponding value of x at the left column)
(Call the third and final column (x – mean)². This column will square whatever value you have in the
‘x – mean’ column)
(Find the summation of everything in the (x – mean)² column)
(Use the standard deviation formula)
Hence, standard deviation = 2√2
We try another example...
Example 2
Calculate the standard deviation or 3, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 13 (correct answer to 2 decimal places)
Solution
(Calculate the mean of the data set before you)
Mean = Sum of all values / number of values
Mean = 3 + 5 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 13 / 6
Mean = 51 / 6
Mean = 8.5
(Create a table with rows and columns)
(Call the first column, x (which represents all the values in the data set). Enlist all the values in the
data set in that column)
(Call the second column, ‘x – mean’. Here you will subtract the mean you previously found from the
corresponding value of x at the left column)
(Call the third and final column (x – mean)². This column will square whatever value you have in the
‘x – mean’ column)
(Find the summation of everything in the (x – mean)² column)
(Use the standard deviation formula)
Standard deviation = 3.45 (2 d.p )
PIE CHART
A pie chart is a circle, which is divided into sectors whose angles are used to display data
However, when it comes to post utme pie chart questions, you just have to know the principles and
not so much diagrams.
Because a pie chart is a circle, sum of angles in a pie chart = 360⁰
For each data being represented, it’s portion = θ/360 × Total amount
Let’s put this knowledge to the test...
Example 1
x⁰, (2x – 12)⁰, (2x – 18)⁰, (3x + 12)⁰ and (2x + 18)⁰ are the angles in the sectors of a pie chart. The pie
chart shows the distribution 120 workers in a company. If the number of drivers in that company is
represented by (2x – 12)⁰, how many drivers are there in the company
Solution
Sum of angles in a pie chart = 360⁰
x + (2x – 12) + (2x – 18) + (3x + 12) + (2x + 18) = 360⁰
x + 2x – 12 + 2x – 18 + 3x + 12 + 2x + 18 = 360
x + 2x + 2x + 3x + 2x = 360 + 12 + 18 – 12 – 18
10x = 360
x = 360 / 10
x = 36
If x = 36
Then Drivers = 2x – 12
= 2(36) – 12
= 72 – 12
= 60⁰
So, 60⁰ represents drivers
So if there are a total of 120 workers, how many drivers are there?
Portion of drivers = θ/360 × Total amount
= 60/360 × 120
= 1/6 × 120
= 20
Therefore, there were 20 drivers
Example 2
A pie chart shows the distribution of a family’s monthly income. The family’s income is N90, 000 that
month. If 72⁰ represents how much was spent on rent, how much was spent on rent that month?
Solution
Easy
Portion = θ/360 × Total amount
Therefore, portion spent on rent = 72/360 × N90 000
= 1/5 × N90 000
= N18 000
OR
Since, 360⁰ represents the WHOLE, you could say;
If 360⁰ ---------------- N90 000
Then, 72⁰ ----------------- x
(Cross multiply)
360 × x = 72 × N90 000
x = 72 × 90 000 / 360
x = N18 000
Therefore, N18, 000 was spent on rent
Example 3
A sector on a pie chart representing the number of students offering Mathematics has an angle of
24°. If 8 students offer Mathematics, the total number of students in the class is?
Solution
Portion = θ/360 × Total amount
Let x be the total number of students in the class
Hence, portion offering Mathematics = 24/360 × x
8 = 24/360 × x
8 × 360 / 24 = x
120 = x
x = 120
Therefore, total number of students = 120 students
ATTEMPTING TOUGHER QUESTIONS ON STATISTICS
1. In a soccer competition in one season, a club had scored the following goals: 2, 0, 3, 3, 2, 1,
5, 0, 1, 0, 5, 1, 0, 2, 2, 1, 3, 1, 5 and 1.
Evaluate Mean + Median + Mode
Solution
Mean = Sum of values / number of values
Mean = 2 + 0 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 5 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 5 + 1 + 0 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 5 + 1 / 20
Mean = 38 / 20
Mean = 1.9
Median = Middle value
We arrange in ascending order
0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5.
Middle values = 1 and 2
Hence, Median = 1 + 2 / 2
= 3/2
Median = 1.5
Mode = 1 (It has the highest frequency – 6 times)
Hence, mean + Median + Mode = 1.9 + 1.5 + 1
= 4.4
2. In a school, there are 35 students in Class 3A and 40 in Class 3B. The mean score for Class 3A
in a Biology examination is 60.0 and that for 3B in the same paper is 52.5. Find to one place
of decimals, the mean for the combined classes.
Solution
When it comes to questions that are twisted such as this, use what you know to get AS
MUCH as you don’t know
Mean = Sum of values / number of values
Therefore,
Mean of scores in 3A = Sum of scores in 3A / number of people in 3A
Hence,
Sum of scores in 3A = Mean of scores in 3A × number of people in 3A
Mean of scores in 3A = 60, number of people in 3A = 35
Hence,
Sum of scores in 3A = 60 × 35
= 2100
Also,
Mean of scores in 3B = Sum of scores in 3B / number of people in 3B
So,
Sum of scores in 3B = Mean of scores in 3B × number of people in 3B
Mean of scores in 3B = 52.5, number of students in 3B = 40
Hence,
Sum of scores in 3B = 52.5 × 40
2100
So, if the classes were combined
Mean of scores = Sum of scores in both classes / number of students in both classes
Mean of scores = 2100 + 2100 / 40 + 35
= 4200 / 75
= 56
3. The arithmetic mean of the ages of 30 pupils in a class is 15.3 years. One boy
leaves the class and one girl is enrolled, and the new average age of 30 pupils in
the class becomes 15.2 years. How much older is the boy than the girl?
Solution
Again, we use what we know to get what we don’t know
Mean = Sum of values / number of values
Hence,
Mean of ages = Sum of ages / number of people
Sum of ages = Mean of ages × number of people
When the boy was still in the class,
Mean = 15.3, number of people = 30
Hence,
Sum of ages = 15.3 × 30
= 459
When boy leaves and girl comes in,
Mean = 15.2, number of people = 30
Hence,
Sum of ages = 15.2 × 30
= 456
So, the difference between the ages of the boy and the girl will be:
Sum of the ages in class when boy was there – Sum of ages in class when girl was
there
= 459 – 456
=3
4. The mean of the numbers 3, 6, 4, x and 7 is 5. Find the
I. Standard deviation.
II. Mean deviation
Solution
First and foremost, we will have to find x
Mean = Sum of values / number of values
5=3+6+4+x+7/5
5 = 20 + x / 5
(Cross multiply)
5 × 5 = 20 + x
25 = 20 + x
20 + x = 25
x = 25 – 20
x=5
I. Standard deviation
Standard deviation = √2
II. Mean deviation
Mean deviation = 1.2
