1. What is Relative Frequency?

Relative frequency is a statistical measure that represents the proportion of times a particular value occurs in a dataset relative to the total number of observations. It provides a normalized view of frequency distribution.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the relative frequency formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Frequency} \) — Number of times a specific value occurs (unitless)
• \( \text{Total Frequency} \) — Total number of observations in the dataset (unitless)
• \( \text{Relative Frequency} \) — Proportion of the specific value in the dataset (unitless)

Explanation: This formula converts absolute frequencies into proportional values that sum to 1 (or 100% when expressed as percentages) across all categories.

3. Importance of Relative Frequency

Details: Relative frequency is essential for comparing distributions across different sample sizes, creating probability distributions, and understanding the proportional composition of datasets in statistical analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency of the specific value and the total frequency of all values. Both values must be positive numbers, and frequency cannot exceed total frequency.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between frequency and relative frequency?
A: Frequency is the absolute count of occurrences, while relative frequency is the proportion of occurrences relative to the total observations.

Q2: How is relative frequency related to probability?
A: Relative frequency can be interpreted as empirical probability - the probability of an event based on observed data rather than theoretical models.

Q3: Can relative frequency be greater than 1?
A: No, relative frequency always ranges from 0 to 1 (or 0% to 100% when expressed as percentage).

Q4: What is the sum of all relative frequencies in a dataset?
A: The sum of all relative frequencies in a complete dataset should equal 1 (or 100%).

Q5: When should I use relative frequency instead of absolute frequency?
A: Use relative frequency when comparing datasets of different sizes or when you need proportional insights rather than absolute counts.