Boxplot

Definition of Boxplot

A boxplot is a graphical representation of the five-number summary of a dataset. The five-number summary includes the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum of a dataset. The boxplot displays these numbers as well as the distribution of the data.

What is Boxplot used for?

A boxplot, also known as a box and whisker plot, is a data visualization method that is used to illustrate the distribution of numerical data. It displays a five-number summary plot with two lines (the whiskers) extending from either side of a rectangular box. The boxplot helps to identify outliers as well as measures of central tendency such as the median, first quartile, third quartile and interquartile range. Additionally, it can reveal skewness in the data set by showing differences between the mean and median values. Boxplots are often used to compare different groups, particularly when identifying significant differences in their distributions. For example, they can be used to compare the salaries of two different departments within a company or to compare student performance across different classes at school. They are also useful for making predictions about future data since they provide an indication of any significant changes that may have occurred. Overall, boxplots provide users with an effective way to quickly summarize and visualize large amounts of data so that patterns and trends can be identified more easily.