According to the National Center for Health Statistics, a 10-year-old male whose height is 53.5 inches has a height that is at the 15th percentile. Explain what this means.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a percentile indicates the relative standing of a value within a data set. Specifically, the 15th percentile means that 15% of the population has a value less than or equal to this height.
2. Interpret the given information: a 10-year-old male with a height of 53.5 inches is at the 15th percentile, which means that 15% of 10-year-old males are 53.5 inches tall or shorter.
3. Recognize that this also implies that 85% of 10-year-old males are taller than 53.5 inches, since percentiles divide the population into parts based on height.
4. Note that percentiles are useful for comparing an individual's measurement to a reference population, helping to understand how typical or atypical the measurement is.
5. Summarize that being at the 15th percentile means the child's height is below average compared to peers, but still within the normal range of variation.

Key Concepts

Percentiles

A percentile indicates the relative standing of a value within a data set. For example, being at the 15th percentile means that 15% of the population has a height less than or equal to 53.5 inches, and 85% are taller. Percentiles help compare individual measurements to a reference group.

Growth Charts and Reference Populations

Growth charts are tools developed from large samples to show typical growth patterns by age and sex. They provide percentiles to assess how an individual's measurement compares to peers. The National Center for Health Statistics uses such charts to monitor child development.

Interpretation of Percentile Rankings in Health

Percentile rankings help identify if a child's growth is within a normal range or if there might be concerns. Being at the 15th percentile means the child is shorter than most peers but still within a common range, not necessarily indicating a problem without further context.