NOTE: These instructions are different than the Excel Manual as I'm not fond of their instructions. You can use the Manual if you like, but for the most part these are easier and more thorough. 

 

Table of Contents

1         Working with Discrete Data

                        A. Frequency Distribution

                        B. Relative Frequency Distribution

                        C. Frequency Histogram

                        D. Relative Frequency Histogram

Part 1                       Working with Discrete Data Remember that discrete data is data that is whole numbers (a finite countable range of possibilities).  Suppose our data set is labeled WAIT TIME

 

1A               Frequency Distribution for Discrete Data

Step 1: In order to know what values our table needs, we need to highlight the data column and click on the Data icon in the menu bar and select Sort or click Sort Ascending Icon in tool bar.

 Step 2: You need to format the column that will contain your discrete values as text, otherwise the histograms won't work. So, highlight the area, right click and select Format Cells.

 Step 3: Select Text in the Format Cells dialog box and click OK.

 Step 4: Type up the frequency distribution categories and frequencies

 

Type in each category and frequency for that category.  Since the data is in order, you can highlight a group of numbers and Excel will tell you (in the top left-hand corner) how many rows are highlighted. This helps with the counting process.   Now you have a correct frequency distribution!!

1B               Relative Frequency Distribution for Discrete Data You must make a Frequency Distribution First! Type in a blank "Relative Frequency" Column.

 

Step 1: Find the Sum of the Frequency Column

 

The Excel Formula: SUM will do this. Just click on the cell below your frequency column and type =SUM( You can type in the cells you want Excel to add up (in our example D2:D13) or you can click and highlight them with your mouse (hold down the left mouse button as you move the cursor over them).  Once you have what you want, press Enter. 

Step 2: Find the Relative Frequencies

 Now all we need is to get Excel to divide the frequencies by the Total number of frequencies (i.e. the sum we just found) and we've got it!!

 

 

Type the formula as seen below in the formula bar

. 

The $ signs are so you can drag the formula through the column and get all right answers.

Notice the cells in question will be highlighted, which is a good way to check that you’re getting what you want.

Press ENTER.

  Click on the cell you just made.

Move your cursor to the

 

bottom right-hand corner of that cell till the cursor symbol becomes a plus sign.

Hold down the left mouse button and drag through the entire column.

 

Now you have a correct relative frequency distribution!!

1C               Frequency Histogram for Discrete Data You must make

a Frequency Distribution First! Be sure that you formatted the Category column as TEXT as instructed in part 1a above or this won't work!

 Step 1: Highlight the Categories and Frequency by holding down the left mouse button and click on the Chart Wizard in the Menu bar.

 Step 2: Select Column Chart, press Next

 Step 3: Notice the nice sample of what your chart will look like, press NEXT if it looks good.

 Step 4: Type in a title and appropriate labels for the axes in the Titles Tab.

 

Step 5: Click on the Legend tab and turn off your legend, then click FINISH.

 Step 6: There's only one problem, in a histogram the bars should touch. Right-click on any one of the bars and choose Format Data Series

 Step 7: In the dialog box, click on the Options tab, and change the Gap Width to 0 as shown below. Then click OK.

 Discrete Data Frequency Histogram is now Done!!

1D               Relative Frequency Histogram for Discrete Data

You must make a Relative Frequency Distribution First! Be sure that you formatted the Category column as TEXT as instructed in part 1a above or this won't work!

 Step 1: Highlight the Classes by...

Hold down the left mouse button and highlight all the data and the label in column C

Lift up on the left mouse button. Move the mouse over to the top of column E. Press and hold down the CTRL button on the keyboard, keep holding it down

while... Hold down the left mouse button and highlight all the data and the label in

column E Lift up off of the mouse button and the CTRL button

 Step 2: Select Column Chart, press Next

 Step 3: Notice the nice sample of what your chart will look like, press NEXT if it looks good.

 Step 4: Type in a title and appropriate labels for the axes in the Titles Tab.

 

Step 5: Click on the Legend tab and turn off your legend, then click FINISH.

 Step 6: There's only one problem, in a histogram the bars should touch. Right-click on any one of the bars and choose Format Data Series

 Step 7: In the dialog box, click on the Options tab, and change the Gap Width to 0 as shown below. Then click OK.

 Discrete Data Relative Frequency Histogram is now Done!!