Question

Data on the weight of puppies from two different litters is shown in the box plots. Which comparison is true?

A) More puppies from litter 2 than litter 1 weigh more than 9 pounds.

B) The median weight from litter 2 is less than the median weight from litter 1.

C) Most of the puppies from litter 2 weigh more than the puppies from litter 1.

D) The range of weights from litter 2 is less than the range of weights from litter 1

Answer 1

I can answer, but I need the box plots (or the five-number summaries) to see the actual cutoffs. Could you upload the image or tell me the min, Q1, median, Q3 and max for each litter?

If you want to check yourself, here's how to evaluate each choice from the box plots:

- A) Count how many data points for each litter are above 9 (or, if individual points aren’t shown, see how much of the box/whisker lies above 9). If more of litter 2’s values lie above 9 than litter 1’s, A is true.

- B) Compare the medians (the lines inside the boxes). If litter 2’s median line is to the left (lower weight) of litter 1’s, B is true.

- C) “Most of the puppies from litter 2 weigh more than the puppies from litter 1” means over half of litter 2’s puppies exceed most of litter 1’s values — you’d need to see that more than 50% of litter 2’s distribution is higher than the bulk of litter 1’s (e.g., litter 2’s Q1 is above litter 1’s median). This is the hardest to conclude just from overlapping boxes unless they’re well separated.

- D) Compare ranges: subtract min from max for each box plot (or compare the span from leftmost to rightmost mark). If litter 2’s span is smaller, D is true.

Send the plot or the five-number summaries and I’ll pick the correct option.