osztályhatárok

osztályhatárok, often translated as class boundaries or class limits, are values that define the upper and lower range of each class interval in a frequency distribution. When data is grouped into classes, these boundaries are crucial for accurately representing the data and for calculating statistics. For continuous data, class boundaries are often established by extending the stated limits by half of the smallest unit of measurement in the data. For example, if data is measured to the nearest whole number, the class boundary between 20-29 and 30-39 might be 29.5 and 30.5. This ensures that there are no gaps between the classes, and each data point falls uniquely into one class.

In some contexts, particularly with discrete data or when dealing with statistical software, the terms "class limits" might be used interchangeably with "class boundaries." However, a distinction can exist. Class limits are the stated upper and lower values of a class interval as they appear in the frequency table. Class boundaries, on the other hand, are the more precise values that separate the intervals. The purpose of using class boundaries is to avoid ambiguity and to facilitate calculations, such as finding the midpoint of a class, which is essential for estimating the mean of grouped data. Understanding and correctly applying class boundaries is fundamental to interpreting frequency distributions and performing statistical analysis.