Part 1: Introduction to the QUARTILE Function in Microsoft Excel
Definition
The QUARTILE function in Microsoft Excel is a statistical tool that returns the quartile of a data set. Quartiles divide a rank-ordered data set into four equal parts, denoted by Q1, Q2, and Q3.
Purpose
The QUARTILE function is used to understand the distribution of a data set by returning the quartile rank of a specified value.
Syntax & Arguments
The syntax for the QUARTILE function is:
QUARTILE(array, quart) array: This is the array or cell range of numeric values you want to calculate the quartile.quart: This is the quartile number you wish to return. It can be any integer between 0 and 4.
Return Value
The QUARTILE function returns the quartile of a data set based on the quart value provided.
Remarks
The quart argument in the QUARTILE function accepts the following values:
- 0 for the minimum value
- 1 for the first quartile
- 2 for the median value
- 3 for the third quartile
- 4 for the maximum value
If the quart argument is not an integer between 0 and 4. The QUARTILE function will return a #NUM! Error.
Part 2: Examples of the QUARTILE Function in Microsoft Excel
Example 1: Sales Data Analysis
Purpose of Example
To find the first quartile of a set of sales data.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales | Formula | Result |
| 2 | $2000 | ||
| 3 | $3000 | ||
| 4 | $4000 | ||
| 5 | =QUARTILE(A2:A4, 1) | Approx. $2000 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the sales data’s first quartile (25th percentile). The result gives an understanding of the lower range of your sales data.
Example 2: Employee Performance Analysis
Purpose of Example
To find the third quartile of a set of employee performance scores.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scores | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 85 | ||
| 3 | 90 | ||
| 4 | 95 | ||
| 5 | =QUARTILE(A2:A4, 3) | Approx. $95 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the employee performance scores’ third quartile (75th percentile). The result gives an understanding of the upper range of your performance scores.
Example 3: Inventory Management
Purpose of Example
To find the median of a set of inventory levels.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stock | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 100 | ||
| 3 | 200 | ||
| 4 | 300 | ||
| 5 | =QUARTILE(A2:A4, 2) | Approx. $200 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the median (50th percentile) of the inventory levels. The result gives an understanding of the middle range of your inventory levels.
Example 4: Customer Satisfaction Survey
Purpose of Example
To find the minimum value of a set of customer satisfaction scores.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scores | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 8 | ||
| 3 | 9 | ||
| 4 | 10 | ||
| 5 | =QUARTILE(A2:A4, 0) | Approx. $8 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the customer satisfaction scores’ minimum value (0th percentile). The result explains the lowest score in your customer satisfaction survey.
Example 5: Financial Data Analysis
Purpose of Example
To find the maximum value of a set of financial data.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Formula | Result |
| 2 | $5000 | ||
| 3 | $6000 | ||
| 4 | $7000 | ||
| 5 | =QUARTILE(A2:A4, 4) | Approx. $7000 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the financial data’s maximum value (100th percentile). The result gives an understanding of the highest value in your financial data.
Example 6: Sales Data Analysis with IF Function
Purpose of Example
To determine if the sales data falls within the upper quartile.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales | Formula | Result |
| 2 | $2000 | ||
| 3 | $3000 | ||
| 4 | $4000 | ||
| 5 | =IF(A2>QUARTILE(A2:A4, 3), "Upper Quartile", "Lower Quartile") | “Lower Quartile” |
Explanation
This formula checks if the sales value in cell A2 is greater than the third quartile of the sales data. If it is, it returns “Upper Quartile”; otherwise, it replaces “Lower Quartile”. This can help to identify high-performing sales data quickly.
Example 7: Employee Performance Analysis with SUM Function
Purpose of Example
Calculate the sum of employee performance scores above the first quartile.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scores | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 85 | ||
| 3 | 90 | ||
| 4 | 95 | ||
| 5 | =SUM(IF(A2:A4>QUARTILE(A2:A4, 1), A2:A4, 0)) | 185 |
Explanation
This formula sums up the scores that are above the first quartile. It can help to identify the total of high-performing scores quickly.
Example 8: Inventory Management with VLOOKUP Function
Purpose of Example
To find the product name of the inventory level that matches the third quartile.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product | Stock | Formula | Result |
| 2 | A | 100 | ||
| 3 | B | 200 | ||
| 4 | C | 300 | ||
| 5 | =VLOOKUP(QUARTILE(B2:B4, 3), A2:B4, 1, FALSE) | “C” |
Explanation
This formula finds the product name of the inventory level that matches the third quartile. It can help to identify the product with a high inventory level quickly.
Example 9: Customer Satisfaction Survey with AVERAGE Function
Purpose of Example
To calculate the average customer satisfaction scores that are above the median.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scores | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 8 | ||
| 3 | 9 | ||
| 4 | 10 | ||
| 5 | =AVERAGE(IF(A2:A4>QUARTILE(A2:A4, 2), A2:A4, "")) | 10 |
Explanation
This formula calculates the average of the scores that are above the median. It can help to identify the average high customer satisfaction scores quickly.
Example 10: Financial Data Analysis with COUNTIF Function
Purpose of Example
To count the number of financial data points that are below the first quartile.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Formula | Result |
| 2 | $5000 | ||
| 3 | $6000 | ||
| 4 | $7000 | ||
| 5 | =COUNTIF(A2:A4, "<"&QUARTILE(A2:A4, 1)) | 0 |
Explanation
This formula counts the number of financial data points that are below the first quartile. It can help to identify the number of low financial data points quickly.
Example 11: Sales Data Analysis with MAX Function
Purpose of Example
To find the maximum sales data that is below the third quartile.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales | Formula | Result |
| 2 | $2000 | ||
| 3 | $3000 | ||
| 4 | $4000 | ||
| 5 | =MAX(IF(A2:A4<QUARTILE(A2:A4, 3), A2:A4, "")) | $3000 |
Explanation
This formula finds the maximum sales data that is below the third quartile. It can help quickly identify the highest sales data in the lower range.
Example 12: Employee Performance Analysis with MIN Function
Purpose of Example
To find the minimum employee performance score that is above the median.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scores | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 85 | ||
| 3 | 90 | ||
| 4 | 95 | ||
| 5 | =MIN(IF(A2:A4>QUARTILE(A2:A4, 2), A2:A4, "")) | 95 |
Explanation
This formula finds the minimum employee performance score that is above the median. It can help to identify the lowest score in the upper range quickly.
Example 13: Inventory Management with ROUND Function
Purpose of Example
To round the third quartile of the inventory levels to the nearest whole number.
Data Tables and Formulas
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stock | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 100 | ||
| 3 | 200 | ||
| 4 | 300 | ||
| 5 | =ROUND(QUARTILE(A2:A4, 3), 0) | 300 |
Explanation
This formula rounds the third quartile of the inventory levels to the nearest whole number. It can help to simplify the data for easier understanding.
Part 3: Tips and Tricks
- QUARTILE function can be used with other Excel functions to perform more complex statistical analysis.
- Remember that the
quartargument must be an integer between 0 and 4. Any other value will return a #NUM! Error. - If your data set contains non-numeric values, the QUARTILE function will ignore them.
- Use the QUARTILE function to help identify outliers in your data set. Outliers are typically values that fall below Q1 – 1.5*(Q3-Q1) or above Q3 + 1.5*(Q3-Q1).
- The QUARTILE function is part of an Excel suite of statistical functions that can help you analyze and understand your data better. Other functions in this suite include AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MODE, STDEV, and VAR.