Introduction:

In Statistics, we commonly encounter the concept of the median, which represents the middle value or mean of the two middle values in a dataset. However, there are other essential values that divide data into equal parts for more comprehensive analysis.

Quartiles divide data into four parts, deciles into ten parts, and percentiles into one hundred parts. These measures provide valuable insights into the distribution and spread of data, allowing us to analyze specific segments of a dataset with precision. By comprehending quartiles, deciles, and percentiles, we gain a deeper understanding of the patterns and characteristics of our data.

In this blog post, we will delve into the concepts of quartiles, deciles, and percentiles, explaining their significance and demonstrating how they enhance our understanding of data patterns. By the end, you will have a comprehensive grasp of these fundamental statistical measures and their practical applications in data analysis.

improve your learning from udemy free courses

Quartiles:

The values which divide an array (a set of data arranged in ascending or descending order) into four equal parts are called Quartiles. The first, second and third quartiles are denoted by Q1, Q2,Q3 respectively. The first and third quartiles are also called the lower and upper quartiles respectively. The second quartile represents the median, the middle value.

Quartiles for Ungrouped Data:

Quartiles for ungrouped data are calculated by the following formulae.

clip_image004

clip_image006

clip_image008

For Example:

Following is the data of marks obtained by 20 students in a test of statistics;

53 74 82 42 39 20 81 68 58 28
67 54 93 70 30 55 36 37 29 61

In order to apply formulae, we need to arrange the above data into ascending order i.e. in the form of an array.

20 28 29 30 36 37 39 42 53 54
55 58 61 67 68 70 74 81 82 93

Here, n = 20

i. clip_image010

clip_image012

clip_image014

The value of the 5th item is 36 and that of the 6th item is 37. Thus, the first quartile is a value 0.25th of the way between 36 and 37, which are 36.25. Therefore, clip_image016= 36.25. Similarly,

ii. clip_image018

clip_image020

clip_image022

The value of the 10th item is 54 and that of the 11th item is 55. Thus the second quartile is the 0.5th of the value 54 and 55. Since the difference between 54 and 55 is of 1, therefore 54 + 1(0.5) = 54.5. Hence, clip_image024= 54.5. Likewise,

iii. clip_image026

clip_image028

clip_image030

The value of the 15th item is 68 and that of the 16th item is 70. Thus the third quartile is a value 0.75th of the way between 68 and 70. As the difference between 68 and 70 is 2, so the third quartile will be 68 + 2(0.75) = 69.5. Therefore, clip_image032 = 69.5.

Quartiles for Grouped Data:

The quartiles may be determined from grouped data in the same way as the median except that in place of n/2 we will use n/4. For calculating quartiles from grouped data we will form cumulative frequency column. Quartiles for grouped data will be calculated from the following formulae;

clip_image034

clip_image036

clip_image024[1] = Median.

Where,

l = lower class boundary of the class containing the clip_image038, i.e. the class corresponding to the cumulative frequency in which n/4 or 3n/4 lies

h = class interval size of the class containingclip_image040.

f = frequency of the class containing clip_image038[1].

n = number of values, or the total frequency.

C.F = cumulative frequency of the class preceding the class containing clip_image038[2].

For Example:

We will calculate the quartiles from the frequency distribution for the weight of 120 students as given in the following Table 18;

Table 18
Weight (lb) Frequency (f) Class Boundaries Cumulative Frequency
110 – 119 1 109.5 – 119.5 0
120 – 129 4 119.5 – 129.5 5
130 – 139 17 129.5 – 139.5 22
140 – 149 28 139.5 – 149.5 50
150 – 159 25 149.5 – 159.5 75
160 – 169 18 159.5 – 169.5 93
170 – 179 13 169.5 – 179.5 106
180 – 189 6 179.5 – 189.5 112
190 – 199 5 189.5 – 199.5 117
200 – 209 2 195.5 – 209.5 119
210 – 219 1 209.5 – 219.5 120
f = n = 120

i. The first quartile clip_image016[1]is the value of clip_image042or the 30th item from the lower end. From Table 18 we see that cumulative frequency of the third class is 22 and that of the fourth class is 50. Thus clip_image016[2]lies in the fourth class i.e. 140 – 149.

clip_image044

clip_image046

clip_image048

clip_image050

ii. The thirds quartile clip_image032[1] is the value of clip_image052 or 90th item from the lower end. The cumulative frequency of the fifth class is 75 and that of the sixth class is 93. Thus, clip_image032[2] lies in the sixth class i.e. 160 – 169.

clip_image054

clip_image056

clip_image058

clip_image060

Conclusion

From clip_image062 we conclude that 25% of the students weigh 142.36 pounds or less and 75% of the students weigh 167.83 pounds or less.

Deciles:

The values which divide an array into ten equal parts are called deciles. The first, second,…… ninth deciles by clip_image064 respectively. The fifth decile (clip_image066 corresponds to median. The second, fourth, sixth and eighth deciles which collectively divide the data into five equal parts are called quintiles.

Deciles for Ungrouped Data:

Deciles for ungrouped data will be calculated from the following formulae;

clip_image068

clip_image070

clip_image072

clip_image074

clip_image076

For Example:

We will calculate second, third and seventh deciles from the following array of data.

20

28

29

30

36

37

39

42

53

54

55

58

61

67

68

70

74

81

82

93

i. clip_image078

clip_image080

clip_image082

The value of the 4th item is 30 and that of the 5th item is 36. Thus the second decile is a value 0.2th of the way between 30 and 36. The fifth decile will be 30 + 6(0.2) = 31.2. Therefore, clip_image084 = 31.2.

ii. clip_image086

clip_image088

clip_image090

The value of the 6th item is 37 and that of the 7th item is 39. Thus the third decile is 0.3th of the way between 37 and 39. The third decile will be 37 + 2(0.3) = 37.6. Hence, clip_image092 = 37.6.

iii. clip_image094

clip_image096

clip_image098

The value of the 14th item is 67 and that of the 15th item is 68. Thus the 7th decile is 0.7th of the way between 67 and 68, which will be as 37 + 0.7 = 67.7. Therefore, clip_image100 = 67.7.

Decile for Grouped Data

Decile for grouped data can be calculated from the following formulae;

clip_image102

clip_image104

clip_image074[1]

clip_image074[2]

clip_image106

Where,

l = lower class boundary of the class containing the clip_image108, i.e. the class corresponding to the cumulative frequency in which 2n/10 or 9n/10 lies

h = class interval size of the class containingclip_image108[1].

f = frequency of the class containing clip_image108[2].

n = number of values, or the total frequency.

C.F = cumulative frequency of the class preceding the class containingclip_image108[3].

For Example:

We will calculate fourth, seventh and ninth deciles from the frequency distribution of weights of 120 students, as provided in Table 18.

i. clip_image110

clip_image112

clip_image114

ii. clip_image116

clip_image118

clip_image120

iii. clip_image122

clip_image124

clip_image126

Conclusion:

From clip_image128 we conclude that 40% students weigh 148.79 pounds or less, 70% students weigh 164.5 pounds or less and 90% students weigh 182.83 pounds or less.

Percentiles:

The values which divide an array into one hundred equal parts are called percentiles. The first, second,……. Ninety-ninth percentile are denoted by clip_image130 The 50th percentile (clip_image132) corresponds to the median. The 25th percentile clip_image134 corresponds to the first quartile and the 75th percentile clip_image136 corresponds to the third quartile.

Percentiles for Ungrouped Data:

Percentile from ungrouped data could be calculated from the following formulae;

clip_image138

clip_image140

clip_image072[1]

clip_image074[3]

clip_image142

For Example:

We will calculate fifteenth, thirty-seventh and sixty-fourth percentile from the following array;

20 28 29 30 36 37 39 42 53 54
55 58 61 67 68 70 74 81 82 93

i. clip_image144

clip_image146

clip_image148

The value of the 3rd item is 29 and that of the 4th item is 30. Thus the 15th percentile is 0.15th item the way between 29 and 30, which will be calculated as 29 + 0.15 = 29.15. Hence, clip_image150 = 29.15.

ii. clip_image152

clip_image154

clip_image156

The value of 7th item is 39 and that of the 8th item is 42. Thus the 37th percentile is 0.77th of the between 39 and 42, which will be calculate as 39 + 3(0.77) = 41.31. Hence, clip_image158 = 41.31.

iii. clip_image160

clip_image162

clip_image164

The value of the 13th item is 61 and that of the 14th item is 67. Thus, the 64th percentile is 0.44th of the way between 61 and 67. Since the difference between 61 and 67 is 6 so 64th percentile will be calculated as 61 + 6(0.44) = 63.64. Hence, clip_image166 = 63.64.

Percentiles for Grouped Data:

Percentiles can also be calculated for grouped data which is done with the help of following formulae;

clip_image168

clip_image170

clip_image074[4]

clip_image074[5]

clip_image172

Where,

l = lower class boundary of the class containing the clip_image174, i.e. the class corresponding to the cumulative frequency in which 35n/100 or 99n/100 lies

h = class interval size of the class containing.clip_image176.

f = frequency of the class containingclip_image174[1].

n = number of values, or the total frequency.

C.F = cumulative frequency of the class preceding the class containingclip_image174[2].

For Example:

We will calculate thirty-seventh, forty-fifth and ninetieth percentile from the frequency distribution of weights of 120 students, by using the Table 18.

i. clip_image178

clip_image180

clip_image182

ii. clip_image184

clip_image186

clip_image188

iii. clip_image190

clip_image124[1]

clip_image126[1]

Conclusion

From clip_image192 we have concluded or interpreted that 37% student weigh 147.5 pounds or less. Similarly, 45% students weigh 151.1 pounds or less and 90% students weigh 182.83 pounds or less.