Hello. We’ll learn how to use the PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets in this tutorial.
The PERCENTILE function is utilized to obtain the ranks inside a data array. It differs from a typical %. To illustrate a number out of 100, a percentage is used; for instance, 40% of 200 is 80. In the same way, 20% of 200 is 10. It’s as easy as (value/total value) × 100%. On the other hand, the percentile is not the same. The percentile indicates the position of each entity in a set of numerical data rather than the percentage from a larger value. Employee performance, for instance, is recorded in a straightforward dataset. Using a percentage calculation, we may determine each employee’s performance score out of 100.
Uses of PERCENTILE Function in Google Sheets
We use the percentile to get this “out of” value lower. Using the same statistics, the percentile will show you which employee performed better than X% of employees. We can compute 11 segments of the percentile function in all. The employee with the highest percentile is the one who has outperformed every other employee by 100%; this is how percentiles are related to ranks. In a similar vein, the employee with the lowest percentile is the one who has outperformed every other employee by 0%, which essentially indicates that he has the lowest rank.
Hence, we compare each data point with each other rather than comparing it to a larger value, such as out of 100 or 200. This allows us to determine the highest percentile based on the other data points in the array. Imagine a real-world situation where your overall performance score is 50. You just received a message telling you that you only received 30. You are disappointed, but the next day, when you meet with your coworkers, you find out that every single one of them received a score lower than 25.
This is the difference between percentiles and percentages. This percentage function will not indicate to you that the test was challenging, which is why none of you received high scores. Even though you only received 30 marks, the percentage with its ranking feature will place you first without caring if you are only in the top 60. This is how percentile aids us, and we can use this function to run several analyses on our data.
I recognize that this is a lot easier to understand theoretically, but don’t worry, we’ll put it into practice, and after this tutorial, you’ll be an expert at using this function.
You may also like>>> How To Change Decimal Place In Google Sheets [2 Ways]
How to use PERCENTILE Function in Google Sheets
First, it’s important to understand the idea behind the percentile in general statistics and mathematics. This function was already created by Google Sheets using statistical and mathematical principles. Thus, all we have to do to obtain the desired outcome is adhere to the straightforward syntax and function rules; we don’t need to bother about the backend computations.
PERCENTILE Function in Google Sheets – PERCENTILE Syntax
Before we put the PERCENTILE function into practice, let’s take a closer look at its syntax.
Syntax of PERCENTILE Function
=PERCENTILE(data_array, percentile)
Here,
data_array: This is an array that references a range of cell values that hold all of the data points’ numerical data. Here, you must supply the full range. It is an obligatory debate.
percentile: This is the percentile. You can provide a value here that falls between 0 and 1 to indicate which percentile you are looking for (0, 0.1,0.2, etc.).
OR
You can choose to employ percentages:
- 0 is equivalent to 0%
- 0.1 is equivalent to 10%
- 0.2 is equivalent to 20%
and so forth, until at last
1 is equivalent to 100%
It is also a required argument, meaning that you can only pass the values that are specified above.
There are eleven percentile divisions in all. The percentiles are ranked from 1 (highest) to 0 (lowest), with the remaining percentages being referred to as medium or centered.
Let’s now explore a real-world scenario to gain a practical understanding of the PERCENTILE function.
PERCENTILE Function in Google Sheets – Considering the Performance Score of the Employee
This tutorial will teach you how to use the PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets to calculate employee performance ratings. We don’t know what the employees’ identities and performance ratings are based on, and we don’t need to. Based on the values, the function will automatically assign ranks.
Step 1>
Example data
Step 2>
In any cell, write the PERCENTILE function.
Step 3>
First, pass the parameter data_array.
Step 4>
Give the second argument—the percentile.
Step 5>
Once you hit the Enter key, the result will appear.
Examining the result
We have a percentile; for example, if we find 0 percentile, we will have the lowest ranking (0th) in this dataset.
Moving further, let’s compute every segment of the dataset’s percentile to rate every data point (in this case, employees).
Step 6>
Take a copy of the formula.
Step 7>
Paste the formula in the subsequent cell below and adjust the percentile value from 0 to 0.1 (we will proceed in this manner with each segment).
Step 8>
Proceed and maintain raising the percentile value (it is currently 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and so on).
Step 9>
When you reach 1, your total sheet will look like this.
Here’s another method to define percentile argument:
Note: The formula will not work if you drag it. You can also see that I am transferring the formula to each cell with a different percentile value while maintaining the same range by utilizing a relative reference.
Step 10>
As you can see, each percentile algorithm calculates the same values. The employee ranks in the data set are displayed here.
Here’s how to use PERCENTILE function Google Sheets.
You can test this function using comparable datasets; the process won’t change.
I hope this information is useful to you.
You may also like>>> How To Put Fractions In Google Sheets [Best Guide]
Important Points
- The percentile indicates the array values’ rank in the provided data.
- Additionally, if the values are greater or less than 11, percentiles might provide relative values.
- Not all percentiles are equal to 100%.
- Within the parenthesis of the percentile function, the values 0.1,.1, and 10% all have the same significance when it comes to percentiles.
- Using the same format for all of your functions on a sheet is a smart idea.
- The percentile function can be used to determine which rankings in your data set are greatest in the first percentile and lowest in the least percentile.
- Eleven data points in the example match the percentile segments to display the same values without displaying a mid- or nearing-value. On the other hand, the percentile can be computed for an infinite number of data entities and data points.
- Google Sheets offers other variations for the percentile function, including percentile.inc, percentile.exc, and percentileif
You may also like>>> How To Make A Stacked Bar Chart In Google Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Google Sheets’ percentile mean?
Google Sheets has a function called percentile that can be used to determine any data set’s nth percentile value. The function must define the data set and the percentile, which can be any integer between 0 and 1. After conducting the appropriate analysis, the percentile yields a straightforward result (number) that can be used to score the data points as highest, lowest, or wherever in between.
Why is the percentile necessary in Google Sheets?
To evaluate the data according to rankings, we must utilize Google Sheets’ percentile function. This function, which differs from a percentage in that it ranks data points according to their surrounding values within the data set, is what we need to do. It can be used to determine a dataset’s highest and lowest values.
Is Google Sheets’ Rank function comparable to the PERCENTILE function?
The PERCENTILE function and the rank function in Google Sheets are not comparable. Despite the fact that they both involve data analysis, their goals are distinct. While the PERCENTILE function determines a value’s location in relation to the total dataset using percentiles, the rank function determines a value’s rank within a dataset.
Is it Possible to Determine a Percentage in Google Sheets Using the PERCENTILE Function?
Indeed, percentages in Google Sheets can be computed using the PERCENTILE function. It enables you to locate the value in a given range of data that is less than a specific percentage. It’s a helpful tool for calculating percentages in Google Sheets since you can quickly determine the corresponding amount by entering the range and the required percentile.
Are There Any Similarities Between Using the PERCENTILE and IRR Functions in Google Sheets?
Using the PERCENTILE function is not the same as calculating the IRR in Google Sheets. The PERCENTILE function yields the value below which a particular percentage of data falls, whereas the IRR function calculates the internal rate of return for an investment. These functions are not identical in their applications and have distinct uses.
How can percentile values be analyzed?
You can indicate the percentile you want to calculate, and the percentile function will return the nth percentile after receiving a data array as the first argument. The greatest number in the data array is irrelevant because the percentile views it as the first percentile, so what? The highest value depends on other values. For instance, if your data has three numbers, 1, 2, and 3, then the highest value is 3. However, if you modify those values to eleven and twelve, the highest value is no longer twelve. Because of this, there’s no need to compare values starting at a predetermined value, like 100 or 200. Instead, values are compared to one another, with the highest value indicating the first percentile of the data array, the lowest value being the 0th percentile, and the between segments falling between 0.1 and 0.9.
Conclusion
That’s how to use the PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets. Initially, we endeavored to comprehend the fundamental idea underlying the job. Next, we investigate its rationale and distinguishing features from the percentage. A real-world example of a data set with employee performance ratings extracted from nothing was shown to us. The process involved self-reflection and the application of the percentile function to get a result that allowed us to quickly rank the employees according to their performance scores. In this case, using a percentage would not have produced such a significant outcome that would have allowed us to rank the personnel. As a percentage, The weighting of each employee’s performance score is all that we have access to; it is not comparable to that of other employees. However, we may readily compare employees with one another by utilizing a percentile. We just have a percentile function that allows us to compare employees to one another and derive useful insights for ranking them; we don’t have any standards by which to evaluate individuals.
That concludes our discussion of how to use the PERCENTILE function in Google Sheets. I hope that this information is useful to you. I’ll be back shortly with another useful guidance. Keep learning with Office Chaser.