Introduction to Quartiles

Quartiles
Like Percentile and Deciles, Quartiles is a type of quantile, which is measure of relative
standing of an observation within the data set. Quartiles are the values are three points
that divide the data into four equal parts each group comprising a quarter of the data (the
rst quartile Q1 , second quartile Q2 (also median) and the third quartile Q3 ) in the order
statistics.The rst quartile, (also known as the lower quartile) is the value of order statistic
that exceeds 1/4 of the observations and less than the remaining 3/4 observations. The

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third quartile is known as upper quartile is the value in the order statistic that exceeds 3/4
of the observations and is less than remaining 1/4 observations, while second quartile is the
median.

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Quartiles for Ungrouped Data
For ungrouped data, the quartiles are calculated by splitting the order statistic at the median
and then calculating the median of the two halves. If n is odd, the median can be included
in both sides.
Example:
95.05, 84.60.
Solution:
fea
Find the Q1 , Q2 and Q3 for the following ungrouped data set 88.03, 94.50, 94.90,

We split the order statistic at the median and calculate the median of two halves.
Since n is odd, we can include the median in both halves. The order statistic is 84.60, 88.03,
94.50, 94.90, 95.05.
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Q2 = median = Y( n+1 ) = Y(3)
2

= 94.50(the third observation)

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Q1 = Median of the rst three value = Y( 3+1 )

2

= Y(2) = 88.03(the second observation)

Q3 = Median of the last three values = Y( 3+5 )
2

= Y(4) = 94.90(the forth observation)

Quartiles for Grouped Data

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For the grouped data (in ascending order) the quartiles are calculated as:
h n
Q1 = l + ( − c)
f 4
h 2n
Q2 = l + ( − c)
f 4
h 3n
Q3 = l + ( − c)
f 4
where

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 Introduction to Quartiles

l is the lower class boundary of the class containing the Q1 , Q2 or Q3 .

h is the width of the class containing the Q1 , Q2 or Q3 .
f is the frequency of the class containing the Q1 , Q2 or Q3 .
c is the cumulative
 n frequency
 of the class immediately preceding to the class containing
Q1 , Q2 or Q3 , 4 , 4 or 4 are used to locate Q1 , Q2 or Q3 group.
2n 3n

Example: Find the quartiles for the following grouped data, Deciles, Percentiles for Grouped
data.

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Solution: To locate the class containing Q1 , nd n4 th observation which is here 30
4
th
observation i.e. 7.5th observation. Note that 7.5th observation falls in the group (Q1

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group) 90.595.5.

h n
Q1 = l + ( − c)
f 4
5
= 90.5 + (7.5 − 6) = 90.3750

For Q2 , the
100.5.
2n
4
th observation= 2×30
4
4

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th observation = 15th observation falls in the group 95.5

h 2n
Q2 = l + ( − c)
f 4
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5
= 95.5 + (15 − 10) = 98
10

For Q3 , the 3n
4
th observation= 3×30
4
th = 22.5th observation. So
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h 3n
Q3 = l + ( − c)
f 4
5
= 100.5 + (22.5 − 20) = 102.5833
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