Box Plot

Definition

A box plot (also known as a box-and-whisker plot) is a graphical representation that displays key features of numerical data including minimum, first quartile (Q1), median (Q2), third quartile (Q3), and maximum values. It helps visualize data spread and identify outliers.

Related terms

Quartiles: Quartiles divide a dataset into four equal parts. The first quartile (Q1) represents the 25th percentile, the second quartile (Q2) represents the median, and the third quartile (Q3) represents the 75th percentile.

Outliers: Outliers are data points that significantly differ from other observations in a dataset. They can be identified using various methods and may indicate errors or unusual phenomena.

Whiskers: In a box plot, whiskers represent the range of values within which most of the data falls. They extend from the minimum to maximum values, excluding outliers.