Class Interval
In statistics, a class interval is a specific numerical range used to group large sets of raw data into smaller, manageable categories. This grouping helps in creating frequency distribution tables, making it easier to analyze and interpret grouped data.
Key Concepts
Every class interval has two boundaries: a lower class limit and an upper class limit, which define the starting and ending values of the group.
Class intervals can be continuous (exclusive), where the upper limit of one class becomes the lower limit of the next, or discontinuous (inclusive), where the limits do not overlap.
The numerical width of the interval, found by subtracting the lower limit from the upper limit, is known as the class size.
Real World Applications
Categorizing students' exam marks into ranges like 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 to quickly determine the overall performance of a class.
Grouping the daily wages of factory workers into intervals such as 100-200, 200-300, and 300-400 rupees to calculate the mean salary.