How do you find a median of a box plot

Answer 1

In a box plot (also known as a whisker plot), the median is represented by a line inside the box. Here’s how to identify the median in a box plot:

1. Understand the Structure: A box plot displays five summary statistics of a dataset:

   • Minimum
   • First quartile (Q1, 25th percentile)
   • Median (Q2, 50th percentile)
   • Third quartile (Q3, 75th percentile)
   • Maximum

2. Locate the Box: The box itself spans from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3).

3. Find the Median Line: Inside the box, there will be a line that indicates the median (Q2). This line divides the box into two sections:

   • The lower section represents data values from the minimum to the first quartile (Q1).
   • The upper section represents data values from the third quartile (Q3) to the maximum.

4. Read the Value: The position of the median line within the box can help you visualize where the median falls relative to the quartile values, but the specific value can be determined if you have the raw data or if there are numerical labels on the plot.

In summary, the median is simply the line inside the box in a box plot, dividing the box into two parts, which provides a visual indicator of the middle value of the dataset being represented.