The PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets offers a valuable tool for analyzing datasets by returning the value at a particular percentile. This function can be advantageous for understanding data distributions, making it easier to identify trends and make informed decisions based on statistical analysis.

Syntax

PERCENTILE(data, percentile)

• data: The range of values from which the percentile should be calculated.
• percentile: The percentile value from 0 to 1, representing the cumulative percentage rank within the dataset.

Example #1

PERCENTILE(A1:A10, 0.75)

This function calculates the 75th percentile from the data in cells A1 to A10, returning the value below which 75% of the data lies. For example, if the values in A1 to A10 are {10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100}, this function would return 75.

Example #2

PERCENTILE(B1:B5, 0.9)

This command finds the 90th percentile of the dataset ranging from B1 to B5. If B1 to B5 contains {5, 10, 15, 20, 25}, the result would be 23, indicating that 90% of the data is below this value.

Example #3

PERCENTILE(C1:C15, 0.25)

This function determines the 25th percentile of values in cells C1 to C15. For instance, given C1 to C15 has {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30}, the outcome would be 8, showing that 25% of the dataset falls below this number.

Error handling

• NUM!: This error occurs if the specified percentile is less than 0 or greater than 1.
• N/A: This indicates that there are not enough elements in the dataset specified, rendering it impossible to calculate the requested percentile.
• VALUE!: This error arises when the input for the data range is non-numeric, preventing the computation of the percentile.

Conclusion

The PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets is an essential tool for statistical analysis, allowing users to pinpoint specific values within a dataset. By understanding its syntax and functionality, users can effectively interpret their data, facilitating better decision-making processes and insights.