Re: Calculation of a '95th percentile'
Regardless of what the help file says, perhaps the formula that Excel 2003 uses is in several stages, as follows:
First calculate x=(n+1)*k where n is the total number of values and k is the target percentile.
The resulting figure will contain an integer component and a decimal component (j.g), where j + g = x
Next find the value in your list ranked j and (depending on whether g is larger or smaller) the value immediately above it or the value immediately below it.
Finally, do this
j_smaller+((1-g)*(j_larger-j_smaller)
So, to take the example of the 90th and 95th percentiles from your dataset:
Example 1
k=0.90
n=50
x = (50+1)*0.90 = 45.9
So j_smaller = 45 corresponding to 22400
j_larger = 46 corresponding to 23995
g = 0.9
And 22400+((1-0.9)*(23995-22400)) = 22559.5
Example 2
k=0.95
n=50
x = (50)*0.95 = 48.45
So j_smaller = 47 corresponding to 27787
j_larger = 48 corresponding to 27889
g = 0.45
And 27787+((1-0.45)*(27889-27787)) = 27843.1
Now, I'm not sure that that's right, nor how the hell to write that up as MySQL!?!?