Relative Frequency
Relative frequency is a statistical concept that measures the number of times a particular outcome occurs in comparison to the total number of outcomes. It is used to measure the probability of an event occurring in a given sample. Relative frequency is expressed as a fraction or percentage, and is calculated by dividing the number of times an event occurs by the total number of outcomes. For example, if a coin is flipped 10 times and lands on heads 5 times, the relative frequency of heads is 5/10 or 50%.
History of Relative Frequency
The concept of relative frequency was first introduced by the French mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace in the late 18th century. Laplace used relative frequency to measure the probability of an event occurring in a given sample. He argued that the probability of an event occurring could be determined by counting the number of times it occurred in a given sample. This concept was later adopted by other mathematicians and statisticians, and is now used in a variety of fields, including economics, finance, and medicine.
Table of Comparisons
| Outcome | Number of Occurrences | Relative Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Heads | 5 | 5/10 or 50% |
| Tails | 5 | 5/10 or 50% |
Summary
Relative frequency is a statistical concept that measures the number of times a particular outcome occurs in comparison to the total number of outcomes. It is used to measure the probability of an event occurring in a given sample. Relative frequency is expressed as a fraction or percentage, and is calculated by dividing the number of times an event occurs by the total number of outcomes. For more information about relative frequency, visit websites such as Khan Academy, Investopedia, and Stat Trek.
See Also
- Probability
- Frequency Distribution
- Normal Distribution
- Binomial Distribution
- Poisson Distribution
- Chi-Square Distribution
- T-Distribution
- F-Distribution
- Bayes’ Theorem
- Regression Analysis
