- CFA Exams
- CFA Level I Exam
- Topic 1. Quantitative Methods
- Learning Module 3. Statistical Measures of Asset Returns
- Subject 3. Measures of Shape of a Distribution
CFA Practice Question
Use the following frequency histogram to answer this question:
B. skewed left
C. skewed right
Determine the shape of the distribution shown in the histogram.
A. uniform
B. skewed left
C. skewed right
Correct Answer: B
User Contributed Comments 18
User | Comment |
---|---|
leoo | why? |
cfaman | you should be able to tell from the shape of the distribution! |
chuong | Look at the gray shape of histogram and guess |
Yooo | Mode: 18.5 Mean: <18.5; Pulled down by 2.5 and 6.5 |
Rotigga | Don't just guess unless you want to fail Level I. Write out the values and frequencies: Value, Frequency ---------------- 2.5, 1 6.5, 3 10.5, 3 14.5, 5 18.5, 6 ======= 18 See that the Median=14.5, while the Mean=10.5; since Mean < Median, the distribution is Skewed Left. |
Lucho | mean 13.17 |
fahad | why is this skewed left? Can anyone explain? How do you get 14.5 as median and 10.5 as mean? |
guai | Median: 18 scores in total, the average value of the 9th & 10th scores is the median, which is (14.5+14.5)/2=14.5 Mean : (2.5x1+6.5x3+10.5x3+14.5x5+18.5x6)/18=13.17 The mean 13.17 is less than the median 14.5, the distributions is skewed left. |
surob | Guai - good explanation. I appreciate it. |
TammTamm | If we look at the shape of the distribution, it clearly shows it's skewed to the left. No calculations required. |
magicchip | What is there to calculate? the shape is right in front of you... |
Sabs | Why Calculate? Most of the values (shown by frequency) are to the right, therefore we can safely say that lower values are the long tails. This means negative or skewed to the left. |
rfvo | Come on...easy. Just look at the shape....For newbies ignore Rotigga comment on working it out first...this should take you 1sec to fiqure out. You dont have time to work things out in the exam. 1.5 min per question. You do the math |
jonan203 | the side which get screwed, is the side which is skewed... |
johntan1979 | Yup, agree on ignoring Rotigga's comment. No time to do stuff like that in the actual exam. Learn the shape and this should not take more than a few seconds. |
sgossett86 | look at it as the tail is longer on the left.. negative left skew |
Af00913 | Mean is less than mode, left skew |
nadiahalus | guai thanks! |