Quartile: meaning, definitions and examples
π
quartile
[ ΛkwΙΛrtaΙͺl ]
statistics term
A quartile is a type of quantile that divides a ranked dataset into four equal parts. Each quartile contains 25% of the data points, allowing for better understanding of data distribution. The first quartile (Q1) contains the lowest 25% of data, the second quartile (Q2) is the median, and the third quartile (Q3) contains the highest 25%.
Synonyms
data subset, quartile range, statistical division
Examples of usage
- The first quartile of the dataset is 15.
- To find the quartile, order your data from smallest to largest.
- Analyzing the third quartile helps identify the top achievers.
- The median is a special case of the second quartile.
Etymology
The term 'quartile' is derived from the Latin word 'quartus,' which means 'fourth.' The concept of quartiles emerged in the field of statistics during the 19th century as a means to summarize and describe data sets. It became an essential part of statistical analysis, allowing researchers to assess the dispersion and central tendency of data. The introduction of quartiles facilitated better visualization and understanding of data distributions, especially when analyzing performance metrics in educational and economic contexts. Over time, quartiles have evolved into a standard analytical tool used by statisticians, economists, and researchers across various fields to interpret data more effectively.