STEM Excellence Series: Empowering the Next Generation

BOX AND WHISKER PLOT

BOX AND WHISKER PLOT

Definition Of Box And Whisker Plot

A Box-and-Whisker Plot shows the distribution of a set of data along a number line, dividing the data into four parts using the median and quartiles.

Examples of Box and Whisker Plot

A sample of box-and-whisker plot is shown below

Definition of Box and Whisker Plot

Video Examples: Box and Whisker Plot

Solved Example on Box and Whisker Plot

Ques: The box-and-whisker plot below shows the amount of calories in some bakery items. Use it to find the difference between the upper and lower quartiles.

Solved Example on Box and Whisker Plot

Choices:

A. 150 
B. 650 
C. 500 
D. 250 
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Step 1: From the box-and-whisker plot shown, we learn that the upper quartile value is 650 and the lower quartile value is 500.
Step 2: So, the difference between the two values is 650 - 500 = 150.

Real world Connections for Box and Whisker Plot

Box-and-whisker plots are useful in comparing data.
For example, the prices of different commodities, weights of students in a class, your test scores, etc can be compared using box-and-whisker plots.

Quick Summary

  • Visual representation of data distribution.
  • Shows median, quartiles, and outliers.
  • Useful for comparing different datasets.
\[ N/A (Box plots are graphical, not formula-based) \]

🍎 Teacher Insights

Emphasize the connection between quartiles and percentages. Use real-world examples to illustrate the usefulness of box plots in comparing data sets, such as test scores or commodity prices. Discuss the impact of outliers on the plot.

🎓 Prerequisites

  • Basic arithmetic
  • Understanding of median
  • Concept of quartiles

Check Your Knowledge

Q1: What does the median represent in a box and whisker plot?

Q2: The interquartile range (IQR) is:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the box represent?
A: The box represents the interquartile range (IQR), which contains the middle 50% of the data.

Q: What do the whiskers represent?
A: The whiskers typically extend to the farthest data point within 1.5 times the IQR from the quartiles. Points beyond this are considered outliers.

Q: What is an outlier?
A: An outlier is a data point that is significantly different from other data points in the set. On a box plot, they are typically marked as individual points beyond the whiskers.

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