# Measures of Central Tendency, Class 11 Economics | SwaVid

Measures of Central Tendency, NCERT Class 11 Economics: notes with key ideas, definitions, common mistakes and 3 quick checks with worked answers.

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# Measures of Central Tendency

## Definitions, formats and formulas

## Key ideas

## Common mistakes

## Quick checks

## Keep going

## Questions parents ask

## Class 11 Economics on SwaVid

### Concept of central tendency

### Arithmetic mean

### Properties of arithmetic mean

### Median and partition values

### Mode

### Relative merits and suitability

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Notes written by SwaVid from the NCERT textbook.

Class 11 Economics, Chapter 5. Key ideas, definitions and common mistakes.

CBSE does not print marks for a single chapter.

Short answer. This chapter explains statistical averages that summarise an entire dataset into a single representative value. Students learn how to calculate, interpret, and compare the arithmetic mean, median, and mode across different types of frequency distributions.

Source: NCERT Statistics for Economics (Reprint 2026-27) , Chapter 5, Measures of Central Tendency

A measure of central tendency is a single central or typical value that represents an entire collection of data. It condenses mass data, facilitates comparison between different groups, and helps in statistical decision making.

The arithmetic mean is the most common measure of central tendency, defined as the sum of all values divided by their total number. It can be calculated using the direct method, the assumed mean method, or the step-deviation method.

The sum of deviations of all observations from their arithmetic mean is always zero. Additionally, if the mean and size of two or more component series are known, a combined mean can be computed directly.

The median is the middle value of a dataset arranged in ascending or descending order, dividing it into two equal halves. Other positional values include quartiles, which divide data into four equal parts, deciles into ten parts, and percentiles into a hundred parts.

The mode is the value that occurs with the highest frequency in a distribution. It can be determined by inspection, by grouping, or located graphically using a histogram in continuous series.

The mean is based on all observations but is sensitive to extreme values. The median and mode are positional averages unaffected by extreme values, making them useful for qualitative data and open-ended distributions.

Try each question first. Then tap it to see the answer.

Sum of marks = 12 + 18 + 15 + 25 + 30 = 100

Number of students N = 5

x̄ = 100 / 5 = 20

20 marks

Combined mean = (N₁ × x̄₁ + N₂ × x̄₂) / (N₁ + N₂)

Combined mean = (30 × 60 + 20 × 70) / (30 + 20)

Combined mean = (1800 + 1400) / 50 = 3200 / 50 = 64

64

Arrange in ascending order: 12, 16, 18, 22, 28, 34, 40

Number of observations N = 7

Median position = (7 + 1) / 2 = 4th item

4th item = 22

22

Correlation .

Organisation of Data .

Presentation of Data .

The 13 chapters of Class 11 Economics .

CBSE does not give marks to one chapter. It prints marks for units or parts, and the chapter list page shows them all.

No. They are written by SwaVid from the NCERT textbook. The CBSE curriculum is the reference for what is assessed.

Correlation.

SwaVid is an AI tutor for Indian students in Classes 6 to 12. It finds the earlier ideas a child missed, then teaches today’s chapter. Start free to see how it works.

- Ch 5 NCERT book
- 80 marks, theory paper
- 3 quick checks
- Calculating median without arranging data in order . Always arrange the given values in ascending or descending order before identifying the middle position.
- Using (N + 1) / 2 instead of N / 2 for continuous series median class . Use (N + 1) / 2 only for individual and discrete series. For continuous grouped series, locate the median class using N / 2.
- Taking cumulative frequency of the median class itself . In the median interpolation formula, c.f. stands for the cumulative frequency of the class preceding the median class.
- Applying modal formula without converting inclusive classes to exclusive . Ensure continuous class intervals are in exclusive form with equal class widths before applying the mode formula.

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