You Explain It! Percentiles According to the National Center for Health Statistics, a 19-year-old female whose height is 67.1 inches has a height that is at the 85th 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 85th percentile means that the value is greater than or equal to 85% of the data points in the distribution.
2. Identify that the 19-year-old female's height of 67.1 inches being at the 85th percentile means her height is taller than 85% of 19-year-old females in the reference population.
3. Recognize that the remaining 15% of 19-year-old females have heights greater than 67.1 inches, placing her in the upper range of the height distribution.
4. Interpret this percentile as a way to compare an individual's measurement to a population, showing that she is relatively tall compared to her peers.
5. Note that percentiles do not provide the exact height values of others but rather the position or rank of the individual within the population's height distribution.

Key Concepts

Percentiles

Percentiles indicate the relative standing of a value within a data set. Being at the 85th percentile means that the individual’s height is greater than or equal to 85% of the heights in the reference population.

Interpretation of Percentile Rank

A percentile rank shows how a specific measurement compares to others. For example, a height at the 85th percentile means the person is taller than most peers, but 15% of the population is taller.

Reference Population and Context

Percentiles are based on a defined reference group, such as 19-year-old females in this case. Understanding the context ensures accurate interpretation of what the percentile represents in terms of growth or health standards.