What are quartiles?

Quartiles are statistical values that divide a data set into four equal parts, making it clear how the data is distributed. Specifically, the first quartile (Q1) represents the 25th percentile, the second quartile (Q2) is the median or 50th percentile, and the third quartile (Q3) represents the 75th percentile. This division allows us to understand the spread and central tendency of the data, as well as to identify the range within which the middle 50% of the data points lie.

By examining the quartiles, one can gain insights into the data's variability and detect potential outliers. This concept is essential in data analysis and can inform further investigation by highlighting where most of the values fall and how extreme values might affect overall perceptions of the dataset.