Final answer:
To determine the number of classes in a group frequency distribution, use methods like Sturges' formula, ensure classes are of equal width, calculate class width, and then determine frequency and relative frequency for data organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of classes desired in a group frequency distribution, there are various guidelines you can follow. One commonly used method is Sturges' formula, which is: Number of Classes (k) = 1 + 3.322 Ă— log10(N), where N is the number of observations in the dataset. However, this is not a strict rule and the number of classes can be chosen based on the level of detail you need.
The classes should be of equal width, and you might also consider the square root choice, where the number of classes is approximately the square root of the number of observations. Once the number of classes has been determined, calculate the class width by dividing the range of the data by the number of classes. Organize the data into the classes and then count the number of data points falling into each class to create the frequency.
To find the relative frequency, divide the frequency of each class by the total number of observations. Midpoints for each class can be used for graphical representations, such as histograms, where these will be graphed on the x-axis and the frequency values on the y-axis.