Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 11
Higher

Constructing a cumulative frequency graph

I can construct a cumulative frequency graph.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 11
Higher

Constructing a cumulative frequency graph

I can construct a cumulative frequency graph.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A cumulative frequency graph can be drawn from a frequency table
  2. It can be easier to create another column to sum the frequencies
  3. Cumulative frequency graphs are drawn as smooth curves

Keywords

  • Cumulative frequency - Cumulative frequency is the total of all frequencies up to a defined class. It is the 'running total' of frequencies.

Common misconception

Plotting the midpoint of the class against the cumulative frequency.

Ensure that the pupils are clear that each cumulative frequency includes all values up to the upper boundary of each group.

Collect a continuous data set from the class, e.g. heights, handspan and they can then draw a cumulative frequency graph of this data.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
This is a table showing the colours of some cars in a car park. Which of the following could be a title for the third column?
An image in a quiz
Angle
Correct answer: Frequency
Tally
Number
Q2.
This table shows the colours of 100 cars in a car park. How many are white?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 29
Q3.
What is the upper boundary of this group? $$20 < x \leq40$$
Correct Answer: 40
Q4.
Which two numbers are covered in this table?
An image in a quiz
41 and 60
41 and 59
40 and 59
Correct answer: 40 and 60
Q5.
What are the coordinates of point A? (Remember to write your answer using brackets.)
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: (10, 4), (10,4), (10 , 4)
Q6.
What are the coordinates of point B? (Remember to write your answer using brackets.)
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: (50, 30), (50, 30), (50 , 30)

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
frequency is the total of all frequencies up to a defined class. It is the 'running total' of frequencies.
Correct Answer: Cumulative, cumulative
Q2.
What is the next cumulative frequency?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 45
Q3.
What is the missing cumulative frequency?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 77
Q4.
When plotting the points on a cumulative frequency graph you plot the cumulative frequency against what?
Lower boundary of the group
Mid-point of the group
Correct answer: Upper boundary of the group
Any point in the group
Q5.
After the points have been plotted what should you do next?
Draw a line of best fit
Do not join the points
Join the points with a ruler
Correct answer: Join the points with a smooth curve
Q6.
What coordinates should be plotted for the third point?
An image in a quiz
(45, 32)
(30, 77)
(45, 77)
(50, 32)
Correct answer: (50, 77)