1solving Problems Involving Measures of Position

LESSON
As the name suggests, a measure of position is a number that tells where

the score stands relative to the other in a set of ranked data.
The table shows Gino’s score in the National Career Assessment Examination.
Areas Standard Percentile

Score Rank
General Scholastic Aptitude
Scientific Ability 460.50 48
Reading Comprehension 670.68 94
Verbal Ability 726.57 99
Mathematical Ability 591.72 56
Over all GSA 612.37 84
1. What does a percentile rank mean?

2. If the percentile rank of Gino’s score in scientific ability is 48, does this
mean that he answered 48% of the total items in the test correctly?
To answer the questions, we need to understand the meaning of percentile and
percentile rank.
Percentiles are measures of position and location. To determine the position or
location of a particular data, we divide the set of data into equal parts.
Percentiles
The percentiles are the ninety-nine score points which divide a distribution
into one hundred equal parts, so that each part represents the data set. These
values are denoted by P1, P2, P3,…, P99. For example, the value P50 (the median)
means 50% of the data have lower values than P50.
Percentile ranks
Percentile ranks are particularly useful in relating individual scores to their
positions in the entire group. A percentile rank is typically defined as the
proportion of scores in a distribution that a specific score is greater than or equal
to.
Example 1. Let us use the table from the first example activity to answer these
questions:
a. What is the percentile rank of Gino’s score in verbal ability?
b. If 1.3 million students took NCAE, how many students obtained verbal
ability scores that are lower than Gino’s score?
c. How many students have the same or higher verbal ability score than
Gino?
Solution:
a. The Percentile rank of Gino’s score in verbal ability is 99. We denote his
score as P99=726.57.
b. Gino’s verbal ability score is better than the verbal ability score of 99% of
the students who took NCAE.
99% × 1 300 000 = 0.99 × 1 300 000
= 1 287 000
Thus, 1 287 000 students have lower verbal ability scores than Gino’s
score.
c. The number of students who have the same or higher verbal ability score
as Gino is:
1 300 000 − 1 287 000 = 13 000
Thus, 13 000 students have the same or higher verbal ability scores than
Gino’s score.
Example 2. The height (in cm) of twelve students was measured as follows:
Let us rearrange the 12 students from shortest to tallest.
a. 70% of the students are shorter than what height?

b. What height is at the 25th percentile rank?
c. What height is at the 5th decile?
d. What height is at the upper quartile?
Solutions:
Example 3. Refer to the given data set in Example 2. Determine the percentile rank
of Paolo’s height.
Solution: There are 9 students shorter than Paolo. Thus,

9
× 100 = 75%
12
Therefore, Paolo’s height is at the 75 th percentile rank.
Let us have an example using the grouped data.
a. The table below shows the monthly salary of 60 employees in a company.

Assume that the researcher wanted to know the percentage of employees
who have monthly salaries lower than Php 25 000?
Salary f lower boundaries <cf

29,000-31,999 2 28,999.5 60
26,000-28,999 2 25,999.5 58
23,000-25,999 5 22,999.5 56
20,000-22,999 7 19,999.5 51
17,000-19,999 10 16,999.5 44
14,000-16,999 18 13,999.5 34
11,000-13,999 6 10,999.5 16
8,000-10,999 7 7,999.5 10
5,000-7,999 3 4,999.5 3
60
Solution:
Php 25,000 is within 23,000-25,999
LB = 22,999.5
N = 60
P = 25,000
cfP = 51
fP = 5
i = 3,000
Therefore, 56% of employees who have monthly salaries lower than Php 25,000
while 44% of them have monthly salaries higher than Php 25,000.
b. A survey was conducted among 40 people to find out the number of times
each of them eats in a fastfood or restaurant in a week. Find the 4 th decile and
interpret your answer.
Solution:
Number of 𝑘𝑁
𝐷4 10 − 𝑐𝑓
Times a Person = 𝐿𝐵 + [ 𝑏] 𝑖
F (LB) (<cf) 𝑓
Eats Out in a
Week 4(40)
19-21 1 18.5 40 𝐷4 = 3.5 + [ 10 − 15
16-18 2 15.5 39 ]3
13-15 3 12.5 37 9
16 − 15
10-12 4 9.5 34
𝐷4 = 3.5 + [ ]3
7-9 6 6.5 30 9
𝐷4 = 3.5 + (0.11)3
4-6 9 3.5 24 𝐷4 = 3.5 + 0.33
1-3 15 0.5 15 𝐷4 = 3.83 𝑜𝑟 4 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
Therefore, 40% of the people eats in a fastfood or restaurant for 4 times in a

week.
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1: LET’S PRACTICE
Directions: Read the situation carefully and answer what is being
asked.
The table below shows the average monthly electric consumptions (in kWh)
of 85 households in a certain barangay of Pasig City. Complete the table below and
find the average electric monthly consumption of 60% of the households? Make
your own conclusion.
Solutions:
Monthly
Electric F (LB) (<cf)
Consumption
(in kWh)
451-500 2
401-450 5
351-400 9
301-350 8
251-300 15
201-250 12
151-200 10
101-150 6
51-100 8
1-50 10
Conclusion:
ACTIVITY 2: KEEP PRACTICING
Directions: Read the situation carefully and answer the following questions.
Use separate paper for the complete solution.
The table shows the distribution for the number of employees in 45

companies belonging to a certain industry. Complete the table and calculate the
third quartile, 4th decile and 85th percentile of the number of employees given the
number of companies.
Answer:
Number of Number of
3rd Quartile LB <cf =
Employees Companies
41-45 11
36-40 6
31-35 9 4th Decile =
26-30 7
21-25 8
16-20 4 85th Percentile=
ACTIVITY 3: TEST YOURSELF

Directions: Read the situation carefully and answer the following questions.
Dennis and Christine scored 32 and 23, respectively, in the National Career
Assessment Examination (NCAE). The determining factor for a college scholarship
is that a student’s score should be in the top 10% of the scores of his/her graduating
class. The students in the graduating class obtained the following scores in the
NCAE. Write your solution in a separate sheet of paper.
1. Complete the table by filling in the

values of LB (lower boundaries)
and
<cf (less than cumulative frequency)
2. What is the percentile rank of Dennis
and Christine?
Answer:
3. Based on their percentile and
percentile ranks, will Dennis and
Christine receive a scholarship?
Explain your answer.
Answer:
WRAP–UP
Remember that…
Percentiles are measures of position and location.
Percentiles
The percentiles are the ninety-nine score points which divide a distribution
into one hundred equal parts, so that each part represents the data set.
Percentile ranks
Percentile ranks are particularly useful in relating individual scores to their
positions in the entire group.
VALUING
Reflection: (Journal Writing)
How would I know my position given the academic rank? Write your
reflection with the results of your rank on the space provided.
POSTTEST
Read each item and choose the correct answer. Write your answer before the
number.
1. Rochelle got a score of 55, which is equivalent to a 70th percentile rank in a
mathematics test. Which of the following is NOT true?
a. She scored above 70% of her classmates.
b. Thirty percent of the class got scores of 55 and above.
c. If the passing mark is the first quartile, she passed the test.
d. Her score is below the 5th decile.

2. The 1st quartile of the ages of 250 fourth year
students is 16 years. Which of the following statements is
true?
a. Most of the students are below 16 years old.
b. Seventy-five percent of the students are 16 years old and above.
c. Twenty-five percent of the students are 16 years old.
d. One hundred fifty students are younger than 16 years.

3. In a 100-item test, the passing mark is the 3rd quartile. What does
it imply?
a. The students should answer at least 75 items correctly to pass the

test.
b. The students should answer at least 50 items correctly to pass the

test.
c. The students should answer at most 75 items correctly to pass the
test.
d. The students should answer at most 50 items correctly to pass the

test.
4. In a group of 55 examinees taking the 50-item test,

Rachel obtained a score of 38 and 38 scores were above
her. This implies that her score is .
a. the 38th percentile c. the 55th percentile
b. at the upper quartile d. below the 4th decile

5. Mel’s score in a 75-item test was the median score.
What is his percentile rank?
a. 35th c. 25th
b. 50th d. 75th

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LESSON

As the name suggests, a measure of position is a number that tells where

Areas Standard Percentile

1. What does a percentile rank mean?

a. 70% of the students are shorter than what height?

Solution: There are 9 students shorter than Paolo. Thus,

Let us have an example using the grouped data.

a. The table below shows the monthly salary of 60 employees in a company.

Salary f lower boundaries <cf

Php 25,000 is within 23,000-25,999

Therefore, 40% of the people eats in a fastfood or restaurant for 4 times in a

The table shows the distribution for the number of employees in 45

ACTIVITY 3: TEST YOURSELF

1. Complete the table by filling in the

d. Her score is below the 5th decile.

c. Twenty-five percent of the students are 16 years old.

d. One hundred fifty students are younger than 16 years.

a. The students should answer at least 75 items correctly to pass the

b. The students should answer at least 50 items correctly to pass the

d. The students should answer at most 50 items correctly to pass the

4. In a group of 55 examinees taking the 50-item test,

a. the 38th percentile c. the 55th percentile

b. at the upper quartile d. below the 4th decile

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