The Quartiles for Grouped Data

The steps in computing the median are similar to that of Q 1 and Q 3. In finding the
median, we first need to determine the median class. In the same manner, the Q 1 and the
Q 3 class must be determined first before computing for the value of Q 1 and Q 3. The Q 1
class is the class interval where the ( N4 ) th score is contained, while the class interval
that contains ( 34N ) th score is the Q 3 class.

In computing the quartiles of grouped data, the following formula is used:

kN
Q k =LB+
4
( −cf b
fQ k
i)
where:

LB=lower boundary of the Qk class

N=total frequency
cf b=cumulative frequency of theclass before theQ k class
f Q =frequency of theQ k class
k

i=¿ class interval

k =nth quartile, where n=1, 2 ,∧3

Example:

Calculate the Q 1, Q 2 and Q 3 of the Mathematics test scores of students.

Scores Frequency
46 - 50 4
41 - 45 8
36 - 40 11
31 - 35 9
26 - 30 12
21 - 25 6

Solutions:

For Q 1:

Class Interval Frequency (f) Lower Boundaries Less than Cumulative

Scores (LB) Frequency (<cf)
46 - 50
41 - 45
36 - 40
31 - 35
26 - 30
21 - 25
For Q 2:

Class Interval Frequency (f) Lower Boundaries Less than Cumulative

Scores (LB) Frequency (<cf)
46 - 50
41 - 45
36 - 40
31 - 35
26 - 30
21 - 25

For Q 3:

Class Interval Frequency (f) Lower Boundaries Less than Cumulative

Scores (LB) Frequency (<cf)
46 - 50
41 - 45
36 - 40
31 - 35
26 - 30
21 - 25