Cumulative frequency

A Cumulative Frequency method of grouping the frequencies of the value of a set of variables by adding the frequencies not greater than certain values of the variable.

This is used to identify the number of observations that stay above or below a specific value in a set of data. 

It is usually calculated with a frequency distribution table, which can be formed directly from the data.

Cumulative frequency can be calculated by adding each frequency from a frequency distribution table. Adding a value with the sum of the previous values would give a final value. Which will be exactly equal to the total value of that specific frequency distribution data chart. 

As all frequencies will be added with the previous total, the final value of the observation will always be equal to the total value.

This type of frequency analysis is done to find how often or frequently a certain phenomenon happens and how many of them are under a certain value. This type of data helps researchers describe or explain phenomenon-based situations, like floods, excessive rainfall, etc.

The cumulative frequency helps us display cumulative information graphically. The number, percentage, or even proportion of observations in a data set become more easily as well as visually understandable and presentable with the help of cumulative frequency.

Use of This Term in Sentences

• Cumulative frequency analyzes the tendency or frequency of various types of events.
• Mathematics and Statistics mainly deal with most of the cumulative frequencies applications.