1. What is Percentile Range?

The percentile range is the difference between two percentiles in a distribution. It shows the spread between the higher and lower percentile values, providing insight into the variability of the data.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( P_{high} \) — The higher percentile value
• \( P_{low} \) — The lower percentile value

Explanation: The formula calculates the absolute difference between two percentile values, showing the spread between them.

3. Importance of Percentile Range

Details: Percentile range is important in statistics for understanding data dispersion, comparing distributions, and identifying outliers or unusual patterns in data sets.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the higher percentile value and lower percentile value. Both values must be positive numbers, and the higher percentile must be greater than the lower percentile.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between percentile range and interquartile range?
A: Interquartile range is a specific type of percentile range that uses the 25th and 75th percentiles, while percentile range can use any two percentiles.

Q2: Can percentile range be negative?
A: No, since it's calculated as higher percentile minus lower percentile, it should always be a positive value.

Q3: When is percentile range most useful?
A: It's particularly useful when comparing distributions or when you need to focus on specific portions of a distribution (like the 90th-10th percentile range).

Q4: How does percentile range relate to standard deviation?
A: Both measure spread, but percentile range is more robust to outliers while standard deviation considers all data points.

Q5: Can I use this for non-numerical data?
A: Percentile range requires numerical data that can be ordered and subtracted. It's not suitable for categorical data.