In statistics, when data is grouped - i.e. put into classes - the upper class boundary refers to the value at the higher end of the class. As classes are often described by inequalities, it is important to realise that the upper class boundary may or may not be included within that class.
For example, in the class interval 30 ≤ x < 40, the upper class boundary is 40, but a value of (exactly) 40 would not be included within that class. Similarly, 60 < x ≤ 70 has an upper class boundary of 70, but a value of (exactly) 70 would be included in that class.
In GCSE Mathematics, upper class boundaries help to calculate averages from grouped data, and assist in the construction of statistical diagrams such as cumulative frequency graphs and histograms.
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