Cumulative frequency - GCSE Maths Definition

Cumulative frequency is a way to keep track of the total number of times a value or group of values appears in a data set, as you move from the smallest to the largest. In other words, it shows how many data points fall at or below a certain value. To calculate cumulative frequency, you start with the first value's frequency and then keep adding the frequencies of the next values, creating a running total. This is often used in tables and graphs to help you see patterns or trends in the data, making it easier to understand and interpret what the numbers mean. Cumulative frequency can be particularly useful when you want to find the median, quartiles, or when you're creating a cumulative frequency graph.