<P> In descriptive statistics , a box plot or boxplot is a method for graphically depicting groups of numerical data through their quartiles . Box plots may also have lines extending vertically from the boxes ( whiskers ) indicating variability outside the upper and lower quartiles , hence the terms box - and - whisker plot and box - and - whisker diagram . Outliers may be plotted as individual points . Box plots are non-parametric : they display variation in samples of a statistical population without making any assumptions of the underlying statistical distribution . The spacings between the different parts of the box indicate the degree of dispersion ( spread ) and skewness in the data , and show outliers . In addition to the points themselves , they allow one to visually estimate various L - estimators , notably the interquartile range , midhinge , range , mid-range , and trimean . Box plots can be drawn either horizontally or vertically . Box plots received their name from the box in the middle . </P>
<P> In descriptive statistics , a box plot or boxplot is a method for graphically depicting groups of numerical data through their quartiles . Box plots may also have lines extending vertically from the boxes ( whiskers ) indicating variability outside the upper and lower quartiles , hence the terms box - and - whisker plot and box - and - whisker diagram . Outliers may be plotted as individual points . Box plots are non-parametric : they display variation in samples of a statistical population without making any assumptions of the underlying statistical distribution . The spacings between the different parts of the box indicate the degree of dispersion ( spread ) and skewness in the data , and show outliers . In addition to the points themselves , they allow one to visually estimate various L - estimators , notably the interquartile range , midhinge , range , mid-range , and trimean . Box plots can be drawn either horizontally or vertically . Box plots received their name from the box in the middle . </P>
what do whiskers on a box plot represent
what do whiskers on a box plot represent
variability outside the upper and lower quartiles
variability outside the upper and lower quartiles