Step by step
The question
Question: for the groups 0-10: 3, 10-20: 7, 20-30: 18, 30-40: 22, 40-50: 10, find the interquartile range.
1 Running total
A table of the groups.
We add a column: the cumulative frequency, the running total.
Each total adds the next frequency on: 3, 3 + 7 = 10, 10 + 18 = 28, and so on, up to 60.
2 Plot at the class ends
Across: the values.
Up: the running total.
The graph starts at 0, with 0: nobody is below the first class.
Each total goes at the END of its class: 3 at 10, because by 10 all 3 have been counted.
Careful!
The running total counts everything up to the end of the class.
So the point goes at the end.
3 Join the points
We join the points from left to right.
4 Quartiles
The lower quartile is a quarter of the way up: 60 divided by 4 is 15.
From 15 on the up scale, across to the line, then down: about 22.8.
So Q 1 is about 22.8.
The upper quartile is three quarters of the way up: 45.
From 45 on the up scale, across to the line, then down: about 37.7.
So Q 3 is about 37.7.
5 Interquartile range
The interquartile range is Q3 minus Q1: about 14.9.
The middle half of the values lies in this range.
6 Check
Let's check: the last running total is 60, all the frequencies added.
And the reading is inside its class.
So it fits!
Let's look back.
First: running total.
Then: plot at the class ends.
Then: join the points.
Then: quartiles.
Then: interquartile range.
Last: check.