If you're in the 99th percentile of something does that mean you are in the top 1 percent or the bottom 1 percent?
If you're in the 99th percentile of something does that mean you are in the top 1 percent or the bottom 1 percent?
It depends on whether you are measuring who's richest or who's poorest.
It just means you are one percent of something. Top or bottom must be explained by context.
normally it means you are in the top 1% i.e 99% are below you. however sometimes people simply refer to '1%' think bikers etc. But especially when 'scoring' etc the 99th percentile is the top 1% though arguments could then be made it's the top 2% i.e. 99% inclusive. Can't help you there with that one, sorry
arguments could then be made it's the top 2% i.e. 99% inclusive.
You are confusing with the score rank which can vary if it's inclusive or exclusive. The population of the 99% stay the same in either case.
To be in the ninety-ninth percentile is to say the top 1%.
If you were going to use the actual % sign, then you'd say top 1% or bottom 1%.
But the way you put it, being in the percentile, implies the top 1 in 100.
He was in the 99th percentile of wealth, means top 1%, IE more than 440 000 dollars a year (Although that number is before Covid related inflation.)
He was in the 99th percentile of his graduating class.
And if you still worry its ambiguous, add some more context clues.
He finally rose to his place in the 99th percentile of his profession.
The word rose does the work of directing to which end of the scale you're going.
If you're in the 99th percentile of something does that mean you are in the top 1 percent or the bottom 1 percent?
Percentile is not percent.
In general, it is a prediction when comparing the results of an individual and how they would place in an average scale of "average participants" in what is graded.
A lot of the "scholastic aptitude tests" in the 1970s used percentiles. Does not show they scored say a "95%" on the test, but that when taking all of the same age taking the same test, they would fall somewhere in the range of the top 95% of them. And it was also used in comparisons of the tests, as they could take the same individual, compare them to a grade above (or below) and see how they compare then. Or as it was often used, to compare one state against another to determine where they are stronger or weaker when compared to other school systems or states.
But when considering "percentile", one must never confuse it with "percent". They are not the same thing.
Per Mirriam Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentile
Definition of percentile
: a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it a score in the 95th percentile
The susposed self described 'elites' enjoy playing word salad with the term. "Unlike you (insert derided group), I know what the 99th percentile means."
That quote from many movies and news(?) articles meant as a put down.
Definition of percentile
: a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it a score in the 95th percentile
I think you copied a little too much there. The definition is
a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
The extra bit about the 95th percentile was an example.
AJ