Final answer:
The 2^k≥n rule is used to determine the number of classes in a frequency distribution. The value of k represents the number of classes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method to determine the number of classes in a frequency distribution is the 2^k≥n rule. In this rule, k represents the number of classes.
To apply this rule, you need to find the total number of data points, denoted by n. Then, take the logarithm base 2 of n and round up to the next whole number. The result will be the value of k, which represents the number of classes in the frequency distribution.
For example, if n = 50, the logarithm base 2 of 50 is approximately 5.64. Rounding up to the next whole number gives us k = 6. Therefore, there will be 6 classes in the frequency distribution.