How Percentage is different from Percentile?
Numbers surround humans. From academic scores to shopping discounts, percentiles and percentages impact our daily lives. Thus far, these two terms have confused a range of people. Students often ask, is achieving 85 percent on exams but ranking in the 70th percentile the same? The answer is not at all. Percentage calculates how much, whereas percentile compares one’s position. To get crystal clear details of these concepts, read this article, which provides insights and examples. Understanding these terms is crucial for business analysts, students, and parents to track the growth of their kids.
What is Percentage?
A percentage is defined as a way to express 100 as a fraction. It calculates how much from the total. The symbol used to denote percentage is %.
Formula for Percentage = (Obtained Marks / Total Marks) × 100
Example:
If a student scores 45 out of 50, it is written as (45 divided by 50) × 100 = 90%. A percentage helps compare values and is used widely in different domains, including finance, statistics, and education.
What is Percentile?
A measure that compares a given value below which percentage data falls. In the ranking system, we use percentile, denoted as xth, where x is the number. Instead of measuring exact values, it ranks points of data.
Formula for Percentile = (Number of Values Under Given Score / Total Number of Values) × 100
Example:
If a student achieves 75 marks out of 100, his percentile score is calculated as (75 divided by 100) × 100 = 75th percentile. It shows that this student’s position is better than 75% of the class.
Difference Percentage And Percentile
| Feature | Percentile | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A Fraction of 100 | Measures ranking among given values |
| Calculation | (Obtained Marks / Total Marks) × 100 | (Number of Values Under Given Score / Total Number of Values) × 100 |
| Symbol | % | nth |
| Purpose | Calculate the exact proportion | Calculate the relative position in a set of data |
| Usage | Used in growth rates, discounts and marks | Used in exams, analytics and surveys |
Real-Life Examples
The following are a few examples of percentages and percentiles:
To measure growth charts, doctors use percentile. However, if a doctor mentions the 70th percentile of height, it shows that your child’s height is better than 70% of kids.
Why Is This Difference Important?
Learning this difference is essential if you are working in various fields:
When to Use Percentage and Percentile
There is the following condition which clarifies where to use percentile and percentage:
| Situation | Use Percentile | Use Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Charts | ✔️ | ❌ |
| University Rankings | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Income Growth | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Exam Scores | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Discounts | ❌ | ✔️ |
Conclusion
To conclude, both percentile and percentage are valuable concepts yet distinct. Both are used widely in finance, healthcare, academics, and business. In addition, every field of individuals must know their differences for data interpretation and better decision-making. After reading this article, I hope you will never be confused about these terms again.
