What term describes the running total of the frequencies seen in a frequency distribution?

The correct answer is cumulative frequency, which refers to the running total of the frequencies in a frequency distribution. In statistics, cumulative frequency is used to summarize data, allowing for an understanding of how data accumulates over a set of intervals or categories. It helps to identify how many observations fall below a particular value, providing insights into the distribution and trends within the dataset.

Cumulative frequency is calculated by adding the frequency of a class to the cumulative frequency of the previous class. This is particularly useful in creating cumulative frequency curves or ogives, which visually represent the distribution of data and can facilitate the analysis of percentiles and quartiles.

In contrast, relative frequency refers to the proportion of the total number of observations that an individual frequency represents, while absolute frequency simply denotes the count of occurrences for each value or category. Incremental frequency, though it sounds similar, is not a standard term used in this context. Understanding these terms enhances the ability to interpret and work with statistical data effectively.