MEASURES OF

POSITION
MEA SU RE S OF POSITION
• It tells us the location of an observation relative to the other values when the data are
in ranked order
• It is a measure whether a value is about average, or whether its unusually high or low
• It is used for quantitative data that falls on some numerical scale
• It can be also applied to ordinal variables
S TA NDARD SCORE OR Z-SCOR E
 Measures the distance between an observation and the mean
 the number of standard deviations that the value lies above or below the mean

• If the z-score is positive, the score is above the mean.

• If the z-score is 0, the score is the same as the mean.
• If the z-score is negative, the score is below the mean.
• A data value is considered to be unusual if it is more than two standard deviations from the mean.
EX AMPL E
An IQ test has a mean of 105 and a standard deviation of 20. Find the corresponding z-scores for each IQ:
a) 88
b) 109
c) 122

Solution 𝑥̅ = 105 𝑠 = 20
a) 88
88 − 105 The IQ score of 88 is below the mean
𝒛= = −0.85
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
20
b) 109
109 −105
𝒛= = 0.20 The IQ score of 109 is above the mean
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
20
b) 122
122 −105 The IQ score of 122 is above the mean
𝒛= = 0.85
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
20
EX AMPL E
Which of the following exam grades has a better relative position?
A grade of 43 on an Algebra test with mean score of 40 and standard deviation of 3, or a grade of 75 on
Geometry with mean score of 72 and standard deviation of 5?

Solution

For a grade of 43: 𝑥̅ = 40 𝑠=3 For a grade of 75: 𝑥̅ = 72 𝑠=5

43 − 40 75 − 72
𝒛= =1 𝒛= = 0.6
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
3 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
5

Since the z-score for the Algebra test is greater than the Geometry test, the
position of 43 score on Algebra test is higher than the position of 75 score on
Geometry test.
EX AMPL E
Students were selected from two sections and their scores in a Statistics examination were gathered. The following
information were obtained:
 Sample mean is 75.
First section  Sample standard deviation is 5.6.

 Sample mean is 72.

Second section  Sample standard deviation is 7.

Linda, who is from the first section got a score of 68 while her friend, Jessa, who is in the second section got a
score of 60. Who has a higher standard score?
Solution
Linda Jessa
𝑥̅ = 75 𝑠 = 5.6 𝑥̅ = 72 𝑠 =7

68 − 75 60 − 72
𝒛= = −1.25 𝒛= = −1.71
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
5.6 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑
7

Since −1.25 > −1.71, we conclude that Linda has a higher standard score.
PE RCEN TILE S
• measures of position that divide the data set into one hundred equal parts
• can be found for any percent from 1 to 99 and is denoted as 𝑃𝑟 where the subscript 𝑟 is
the percentile rank

10% 90%
P10

Example:
P10 is the tenth percentile and is equal or larger than 10% of the data
EX AMPL E
Using the data below, find 25, 60 and the percentile rank of 4.
2 6 3 4 2 1 2 0 1 3 6 3
Solution
Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 0 1 1 222 333 4 6 6

2. Find 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟, where n is the number of 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟 = 12(0.25) = 3

observations and 𝑟 is the percentile rank which, in
this example, is 25% = 0.25.

3. Since 𝐶 is a whole number, get the 𝑃25 = 1.5

average of the 3rd and the 4th number in the
ordered list. This will be 𝑃25.

This means that 25% of the observations are less than or equal
to 1.5.
EX AMPL E
Using the data below, find 25, 60 and the percentile rank of 4.
2 6 3 4 2 1 2 0 1 3 6 3
Solution
Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 0 1 1 222 333 4 6 6

2. Find 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟, where n is the number of 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟 = 12(0.60) = 7.2

observations and 𝑟 is the percentile rank
which, in this example, is 60% = 0.60

3. Since 𝐶 is not a whole number, round up to 𝑃60 = 3

8. Locate the 8th observation. This will be 𝑃60 .

we conclude that 60% of the observations are less than or equal

to 3
EX AMPL E
Using the data below, find 25, 60 and the percentile rank of 4.
2 6 3 4 2 1 2 0 1 3 6 3
Solution
Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 0 1 1 222 333 4 6 6 r

2. To determine r: 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑡h𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−0.5

𝑟 =( )(100%)
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠
10−0.5
𝑟=( )(100%) = 79%
12

The percentile rank of 4 is 𝑃79

DE CILES
• measures of position that divide the data set into ten equal parts
• can be found for 1 through 9

10% 10% 10% 10%10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

Example:
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9

is the second decile and is the value that is larger than two-tenths of the
other values.
EX AMPL E
Using the data below, find D6.
2 6 3 4 2 1 2 0 1 3 6 3
Solution
Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 0 1 1 222 333 4 6 6

2. Find 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟, where n is the number of 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟 = 12(0.6) = 7.2

observations and 𝑟 is the decile rank which, in this
example, is 6 or 60%=0.6.

3. Since 𝐶 is not a whole number, round up to 8. D6 = 3

Locate the 8th observation. This will be D6.

This means that the 6th decile is 3 and it is greater than or

equal to six-tenths of other values.
QUARTILES
• measures of position that divide the data set into four equal parts

Example:

is the first quartile and is the value that is larger than one-fourth of the
observations in the distribution.
EX AMPL E
Using the data below, find Q1.
2 6 3 4 2 1 2 0 1 3 6 3
Solution
Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 0 1 1 222 333 4 6 6

2. Find 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟, where n is the number of 𝐶 = 𝑛𝑟 = 12(0.25) = 3

observations and 𝑟 is the quartile rank which, in
this example, is 1 or (1/4)=0.25.

3. Since 𝐶 is a whole number, get the Q1 = 1.5

average of the 3rd and the 4th number in the
ordered list. This will be Q1.

This means that the 1st quartile is 1.5 and it is greater than or
equal to one-fourth of the other values.
E XPL OR ATORY DATA A NALYSIS

• Exploratory data analysis is used to examine data to find out what can be discovered about
the data.
• Two methods to present for exploratory data analysis are stem-and-leaf plot and box plot.
ST EM - AND-LEAF P LOT

• uses the first digit (or digits) as the stem and the last digit as the leaf to form group
of classes.
EX AMPL E
A 100 item test was given to 25 statistics students. The result is shown below:
55 32 20 22 43 14 17 48 24
31 21 22 35 23 36 23 18 25
13 28 12 29 13 18 19
Solution Steps Actual process and result
12 13 13 14 17 18 18 19 20
1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 28 29
31 32 35 36 43 48 55

2. Separate the data according to classes using the 12 13 13 14 17 18 18 19

20 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 28 29
first digit to separate the classes. 31 32 35 36
43 48
55

3. Use the first digit for the leading digit (or stem) Stem Leaf
and list all the last digits in order for the trailing 1 23347889
digit (or leaf): 2 0122334589
3 1256
The stem-and-leaf plot shows that most of the students obtained 4 38
the score from 20 to 29. 5 5
EX AMPL E
Make a stem-and leaf plot for the following data:
215 239 212 245 226 228 246 213 247 225

236 223 221 248 237 242 218 236 232 238

Solution Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 212 213 215 218 221 223 225 226 228 232
236 236 237 238 239 242 245 246 247 248

212 213 215 218

2. Separate the data according to classes using
the first digit to separate the classes. 221 223 225 226 228
232 236 236 237 238 239
242 245 246 247 248

3. Use the first 2 digits for the leading digit Leading Digit Leaf
(or stem) and list all the last digits in order for 21 2358
the trailing digit (or leaf):
22 13568
23 266789
The stem-and-leaf plot shows that most of the students
24 25678
obtained the score from 231 to 239.
BOX - AND-WHISKER PLOT

• graphs five values of the set of data on a number line:

1) The lowest value in the set of data.
2) The lower hinge (midpoint of the numbers below the median).
3) The median.
4) The upper hinge (midpoint of the numbers above the median).
5) The highest value of the set of data.
EX AMPL E
A 100 item test was given to 25 statistics students. The result is shown below:
55 32 20 22 43 14 17 48 24
31 21 22 35 23 36 23 18 25
13 28 12 29 13 18 19
Solution Steps Actual process and result
12 13 13 14 17 18 18 19 20
1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 28 29
31 32 35 36 43 48 55

2. Determine the five values: lowest value in the data set = 12

highest value in the data set = 55
median = 23
lower hinge = 18
upper hinge = 31.5

3. Set up the horizontal axis containing the values

obtained in Step 2. In this case, we start at 10 and
end at 60 with an interval of 5.
EX AMPL E
A 100 item test was given to 25 statistics students. The result is shown below:
55 32 20 22 43 14 17 48 24
31 21 22 35 23 36 23 18 25
13 28 12 29 13 18 19
Solution Steps Actual process and result

4. Draw the boxplot.

a) Draw a vertical segment on the lowest value
12 and highest value 55.
b.) Draw vertical lines on the median 23,
lower hinge 18, and upper hinge 31.5 and
form a box
c.) Draw horizontal segments

The box whisker plot shows that the data is not symmetrical and
that the data is positively skewed since the whisker is longer on the
right.
EX AMPL E
Consider the following data:
215 239 212 245 226 228 246 213 247 225

236 223 221 248 237 242 218 236 232 238

Solution Steps Actual process and result

1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order. 212 213 215 218 221 223 225 226 228 232
236 236 237 238 239 242 245 246 247 248

2. Determine the five values: lowest value in the data set = 212
highest value in the data set = 248
median = =234
lower hinge = = 222
upper hinge = =240.5

3. Set up the horizontal axis containing the values

obtained in Step 2. In this case, we start at 200 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250
and end at 250 with an interval of 5.
EX AMPL E
A 100 item test was given to 25 statistics students. The result is shown below:
55 32 20 22 43 14 17 48 24
31 21 22 35 23 36 23 18 25
13 28 12 29 13 18 19
Solution Steps Actual process and result

4. Draw the boxplot.

a) Draw a vertical segment on the lowest value
212 and highest value 248.
b.) Draw vertical lines on the median 234,
lower hinge 222, and upper hinge 240.5 and
form a box
200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250
c.) Draw horizontal segments

The box whisker plot shows that the data is not symmetrical and
that the data is negatively skewed since the whisker is longer on the
left.