Frequency histogram and polygon The frequency histogram is like a column graph without the spaces between columns. The frequency polygon is a special line graph used in statistics. These graphs can be drawn separately or combined. The information in a frequency distribution table can be used to draw these graphs. Score 11 12 13 14 15 16
Tally IIII I IIII IIII IIII IIII IIII I IIII II II
Frequency 6 5 14 6 7 2 40
The scores go on the horizontal axis
The frequency goes on the vertical axis Frequency Histogram The area of the column represents the frequency for that score
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Frequency
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Allow a halfcolumn width gap at the start
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The columns have no space between them
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Scores For more homework help, tips and info sheets go to www.schoolatoz.com.au © Owned by State of NSW through the Department of Education and Communities 2011. This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for non-commercial educational purposes only. Permission must be received from the department for all other uses.
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The frequency polygon is drawn on axes the same as the histogram – the scores on the horizontal axis and the frequency on the vertical axis. Frequency Polygon The points show the frequency for that score
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Polygon starts at the corner, one unit before the first score
Frequency
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Polygon finishes on the axis, one number after the last score
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Scores
When both the frequency histogram and polygon are drawn on the same axes they look like this: Frequency Histogram 14
Frequency
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Scores
The area under the polygon is the same as the area of the histogram. For more homework help, tips and info sheets go to www.schoolatoz.com.au © Owned by State of NSW through the Department of Education and Communities 2011. This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for non-commercial educational purposes only. Permission must be received from the department for all other uses.
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