Mensa is an organization designed for people of high intelligence. One qualifies for Mensa if one’s intelligence is measured at or above the 98th 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. The 98th percentile means that a score is higher than or equal to 98% of all scores in the distribution.
2. Recognize that qualifying for Mensa at or above the 98th percentile means a person’s intelligence score is greater than or equal to 98% of the population's intelligence scores.
3. Interpret this as being in the top 2% of the population in terms of intelligence, since 100% - 98% = 2%.
4. Note that the intelligence scores are typically assumed to follow a certain distribution, often a normal distribution, which allows us to identify the cutoff score corresponding to the 98th percentile.
5. Summarize that to qualify for Mensa, a person must have an intelligence score that is at least as high as the score that separates the top 2% from the rest of the population.

Key Concepts

Percentiles

A percentile indicates the relative standing of a value within a data set. Being at the 98th percentile means scoring higher than 98% of the population, placing the individual among the top 2% in intelligence scores.

Intelligence Measurement

Intelligence is often measured using standardized tests that produce scores reflecting cognitive abilities. These scores are compared across a population to determine where an individual ranks.

Qualification Criteria

Organizations like Mensa set specific cutoff points, such as the 98th percentile, to define eligibility. This ensures that only individuals with exceptionally high intelligence scores qualify for membership.