Meaning & use
quartile
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Meanings
nouncountable
One of the three values that split ordered data into four equal groups in statistics.
Grammar: Countable; statisticians speak of the first, second, and third quartiles.
Patterns
- the first/second/third quartile
- fall in a quartile
- calculate the quartiles
The second quartile is the same as the median.
Scores below the first quartile were considered low.
nouncountable
Any one of the four groups formed when data are divided by the three quartile values.
Grammar: This use names a group of data; contrast the value sense above.
Patterns
- the lowest quartile
- the top quartile
- students in a quartile
Students in the top quartile received extra practice tasks.
The lowest quartile showed the most improvement after tutoring.
Word forms
| plural | quartiles |
|---|
Common combinations
- first quartile
- The first quartile marks the 25 percent point of the data.
- third quartile
- The third quartile separates the upper quarter from the rest.
- interquartile range
- The interquartile range measures spread between the first and third quartiles.
- quartile of the data
- Each quartile of the data contains the same number of observations.
Word family
- quart noun
- A fourth part; it shares the Latin idea of four but is not a statistical term.
- interquartile adjective
- Relating to the range between the first and third quartiles.
Commonly confused: quartile or quantile? quartile or quartet?
quartile vs quantile
A quantile is any dividing value, while a quartile specifically makes four equal parts.
quartile vs quartet
Quartet means a group of four performers, not a statistical division.
Practice
In statistics, the value that cuts ordered data into four equal parts is a ______.
Choose one answer.
Quartile is the statistical term; quotient is division result, quota is an allowed amount, and quartet is four musicians.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quartile”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.