MEAM 607

Measures of Position
Quartile, Percentile and Decile

Quartiles: Where:
A. Finding Quartiles 𝐹1 = the cumulative frequency less than up to
The computation of the quartiles is the same as class immediately preceding yhe first quartile
1
the computation of the median. class ic the class which contains the 4 𝑛𝑡ℎ item.
1. To find the first Quartile 𝑄1
𝑁 𝐹3 = the cumulative frequency less than up to the
− 𝐹1
𝑄1 = L + [ 4
]c class preceding the third quarter class.
𝑓1
𝐿 = lower class boundary
1. To find the 2nd Quartile 𝑓1 = frequency in which first quartile class lies.
𝑁
− 𝐹2 𝑓3 = frequency in which the third quartile class
𝑄2 = L + [ 2 𝑓 ]c
2 lies.
2. To find the 3rd Quartile C= class size
3𝑁
− 𝐹3
4
𝑄3 = L + [ ]c
𝑓3

B. Percentile Finding the Deciles:

𝒑𝑵 − 𝑭 The same procedure is used in finding quartiles
𝑷𝒑 = 𝑳 + [ ]𝒄 and percentiles.
𝒇𝒑
𝑁
− 𝐹1
Where: 𝐷1 (1𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑒) = 𝐿 + [10 𝑓 ]𝑐
P= percentage of the distribution wanted example 1

12%, 30%, 45% 2𝑁

− 𝐹2
pN = part of N to be counted off in order to reach 𝐷2 (2𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑒) = 𝐿 + [ 10 ]𝑐
Pp. 𝑓2
F = sum of all scores upon intervals below
𝒇𝒑 = number of scores within the interval upon
the 𝑃𝑝 falls
c = class interval size
 1. Find a) the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quartiles from the scores of 60 items midterm
examination in Statistics. b) the percentiles (20%, 40%, 50% and 90%)
c) the deciles (1st, 4th and 9nth decile)
Class Interval f Cumulative Frequency (>)
45 – 47 3 50
42 – 44 4 47
39 – 41 4 43
36 – 38 4 39
33 – 35 2 35
30 – 32 3 32
27 – 29 13 30
24 – 26 8 17
21 – 23 3 9
18 – 20 3 6
15 – 17 0 3
12 – 14 2 3
9 – 11 1 1
N=50

Solution:
𝑁
− 𝐹1
4
To find the 1st Quartile 𝑄1 = L + [ ]c
𝑓1
𝑁 50
a) = = 12.5 𝐹1 = 9 ; 𝑓1 = 8 ; 𝐿 = 23.5 ; 𝑐 = 3
4 4

12.5 − 9
𝑄1 = 23.5 + [ ] 3 = 23.5 + 1.325 = 42.8125
8
𝑁
− 𝐹2
To find the 2nd Quartile 𝑄2 = L + [ 2 𝑓 ]c
2

𝑁 50
= = 25 ; 𝐹2 = 17 ; 𝑓1 = 13 𝐿 = 26.5 ; c=3
2 2

25−17
𝑄2 = 26.5 + [ ] 3 = 26.5 + 1.846 = 28.35
13

3𝑁
− 𝐹3
4
To find the 3rd Quartile 𝑄3 = L + [ ]c
𝑓3
3𝑁 3(50)
= = 37.5 ; 𝐹3 = 35 ; 𝑓3 = 4 ; 𝐿 = 35.5 𝑐 = 3
4 4

37.5−35
𝑄3 = 35.5 + [ ] 3 = 35.5 + 1.875
4
 𝒑𝑵−𝑭
b) Finding the percentile 𝑷𝒑 = 𝑳 + [ ]𝒄
𝒇𝒑

Percentile 20%
𝑝𝑁 = 20%(50) = 10; 𝐹 = 9 ; 𝑓𝑝 = 8 ; 𝐿 = 23.5 ; 𝑐 = 3
10 − 9
𝑃20 = 23.5 + [ ] 3 = 23.875
8

Percentile of 40%
𝑝𝑁 = 40%(50) = 20 ; 𝐹 = 17; 𝑓𝑝 = 13 ; 𝐿 = 26.5 ;𝑐 = 3
20 − 17
𝑃40 = 26.5 + [ ] 3 = 27.19
13

Percentile of 50%
𝑝𝑁 = 50%(50) = 25 ; 𝐹 = 17 ; 𝑓𝑝 = 13 ; 𝐿 = 26.5 ;𝑐 = 3
25 − 17
𝑃50 = 26.5 + [ ] 3 = 28.35
13

Percentile of 90%
𝑝𝑁 = 90%(50) = 45; 𝐹 = 43 ; 𝑓𝑝 = 4 ; 𝐿 = 38.5 ; 𝑐=3
45 − 43
𝑃90 = 38.5 + [ ] 3 = 43
4
𝑁
− 𝐹1
c) Finding the Decile 𝐷1 (1𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑒) = 𝐿 + [10 𝑓 ]𝑐
1

𝑁
− 𝐹1
10
𝐷1 (1𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑒) = 𝐿 + [ ]𝑐
𝑓1

𝑁 50
= 10 = 5 ; 𝐿 = 17.5 ; 𝐹1 = 3 ; 𝑓1 = 3 ; 𝑐 = 3
10

5−3
𝐷1 = 17.5 + [ ] 3 = 19.5
3

4𝑁
− 𝐹4
𝐷4 = 𝐿 + [ 10 ]𝑐
𝑓4
4𝑁 4(50)
= = 20 ; 𝐿 = 26.5 ; 𝐹4 = 17 ; 𝑓4 = 13
10 10
20 − 17
𝐷4 = 26.5 + [ ] 3 = 27.19
13
9𝑁
−𝐹9
10
𝐷9 = 𝐿 + [ ]𝑐
𝑓9
9𝑁 9(50)
10
= 10
= 45 ; 𝐿 = 41.5 ; 𝐹9 = 43 ; 𝑓9 = 4 ; 𝑐 = 3

45−43
𝐷9 = 41.5 + [ ] 3 = 43
4
2. Find a) the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quartiles from data of previous problem.
b) the percentiles (25%, 55% to 95%) c) the deciles (2nd, 6th and 8th decile)
Class Interval f Cumulative Frequency (<)
118 - 126 3 3
127 - 135 5 8
136 - 144 9 17
145 - 153 12 29
154 - 162 5 34
163 - 171 4 38
172 - 180 2 40
N= 40

Solution:
𝑁
− 𝐹1
a) 1st Quartile 𝑄1 = L + [ 4 𝑓 ]c
1

𝑁 40
= =4; 𝐹1 = 3; 𝑓1 = 5 ; 𝐿 = 126.5 ; 𝑐=9
4 10
4−3
𝑄1 = 126.5 + [ ] 9 = 128.3
5
𝑁
− 𝐹2
2
2nd Quartile 𝑄2 = L + [ ]c
𝑓2

𝑁 40
= = 20 ; 𝐿 = 144.5 ; 𝐹2 = 17; 𝑓1 = 12 ; 𝑐 = 9
2 2
20−17
𝑄2 = 144.5 + [ 12 ] 9 =146.75 same as the Median

3𝑁
− 𝐹3
4
3rd Quartile 𝑄3 = L + [ ]c
𝑓3

3𝑁 3(40)
= = 30; 𝐿 = 153.5; 𝐹3 = 29 ; 𝑓3 = 5; 𝑐 = 9
4 4
30 − 29
𝑄3 = 153.5 + [ ] 9 = 155.3
5

𝒑𝑵−𝑭
b) Percentile 𝑷𝒑 = 𝑳 + [ ]𝒄
𝒇𝒑

Percentile of 25%
𝑝𝑁 = 25%(40) = 10; 𝐿 = 135.5 ; 𝐹 = 8; 𝑓𝑝 = 9; 𝑐 = 9

10−8
𝑃25 = 135.5 + [ ] 9 = 137.5
9
 Percentile of 55%
𝑝𝑁 = 55%(40) = 22 ; 𝐿 = 144.5; 𝐹 = 17; 𝑓𝑝 = 12; 𝑐=9

22−17
𝑃55 = 144.5 + [ ] 9 =148.25
12

Percentile of 95%
𝑝𝑁 = 95%(40) = 38 ; 𝐿 = 162.5 ; 𝐹 = 38 ; 𝑓𝑝 = 4; 𝑐=9

138−138
𝑃95 = 162.5 + [ ] 9 = 162.5
4

c) 2nd Decile
2𝑁
−𝐹2
10
𝐷2 = 𝐿 + [ ]𝑐
𝑓2

2𝑁 2(40)
= =8; 𝐿 = 126.5 ; 𝐹2 = 8; 𝑓2 = 5 ; 𝑐 = 9
10 10

8−8
𝐷2 = 126.5 + [ ] 9 = 126.5
5

6th Decile

6𝑁 6(40)
= = 24; 𝐿 = 144.5 ; 𝐹2 = 17; 𝑓2 = 12; 𝑐=9
10 10

24−17
𝐷6 = 144.5 + [ ] 9 =149.75
12

8th Decile
8𝑁
−𝐹8
10
𝐷8 = 𝐿 + [ ]𝑐
𝑓8
8(𝑁) 8(40)
= = 32; 𝐿 = 153.5; 𝐹8 = 29; 𝑓8 = 5 ; 𝑐 = 9
10 10

32−29
𝐷8 = 153.5 + [ ] 9 =158.9
5