What is relative frequency?

Relative frequency refers to the fraction or percentage that represents how often a particular event occurs in a series of trials or experiments. It is calculated by dividing the number of times the event occurs by the total number of trials conducted. This concept is fundamental in statistics, particularly in empirical probability, where observed outcomes are used to estimate probabilities.

For instance, if a die is rolled 100 times and the number '3' appears 30 times, the relative frequency of rolling a '3' would be 30/100, or 30%. This illustrates how often the event takes place within the context of the overall experiment. The importance of relative frequency lies in its ability to provide practical insights based on actual experimental data, making it a crucial tool in both probability theory and real-world applications such as risk assessment and decision-making.