Last Quarter for Dummies

Last Quarter is a term that we often hear in conversation, especially when it comes to money and finances. But what does it really mean? Imagine you have a whole pie, and you can divide it into four equal parts. Each part represents a quarter of the pie, and when we say "last quarter," we are referring to the fourth and final part of that pie. In a similar way, when we talk about time in terms of quarters, we are splitting it into four equal parts. The year is divided into four quarters: the first quarter, the second quarter, the third quarter, and, you guessed it, the last quarter! So, when we say "last quarter," we are referring to the final three months of the year, which include October, November, and December. Now, let's think about it in a different context. Have you ever played a game where you start with a certain amount of money, and each time you pass a certain spot on the board, you receive more money? Well, imagine that your starting amount of money is divided equally into four parts. Each time you pass that certain spot, you receive one of those parts. The last quarter would be the final part of that money that you receive before the game ends. Similarly, in the business world, many companies report their earnings every three months. They tell their investors how well they did during that particular period. The last quarter, being the final part of the year, is especially important because it gives a clear picture of how the company performed during the entire year. So, in summary, "last quarter" refers to the fourth and final part of a whole, whether it's a pie, a year, or even a game. It represents the concluding three months of a year and is often used in discussions related to finances and business performance.