Graphical representation of data
Engineering Mathematics III
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
SMA 2217 Tutorial two
May 2020
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
Question two - Box and whisker plot
At times it is useful to get a general idea of how data clusters
together. Box-and-whisker plots display the distribution of
data items along a number line. The data are divided into four
equal parts, separated by points called quartiles. A
box-and-whisker plot also displays the smallest data point (the
extreme minimum) and the largest data point (the extreme
maximum).
First, place the data in order from smallest to largest.
Next, create a number line that shows the range of the data using
equal intervals.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
Tutorial two...
The median will be used as the middle point on the box-and-whisker
plot and to split the data in half.
Next, the median of each half, the quartile, is then calculated. These
separate the data into quarters.
Then, use the highest data point and the lowest data point as the
endpoints or extremes.
Boxes are drawn between the quartiles, and whiskers are drawn to
the extremes.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
tutorial two
We draw a box-and-whisker plot for the given data.
16, 51, 32, 16, 24, 37, 7, 22, 19, 40, 10, 31, 29, 38, 21, 11
First, put the data in order from smallest to largest.
7, 10, 11, 16, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 29, 31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 51
Next, draw a number line that includes the extremes, 7 and 51. In
this case, use a number line from 5 to 55 using intervals of 5.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...continued
Figure:
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Then, determine the median of the data. The middle points in the
data are 22 and 24 so the median is 23. Mark the median with a
point beneath the number line.
Figure:
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Then, the median separates the data into two groups as shown
below:
7, 10, 11, 16, 16, 19, 21, 22 24, 29, 31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 51
Find the median of each of these groups. These medians are the
quartiles which are 16 and 34.5. These divide the data into four
groups. Mark the quartiles as you did the median, with a point.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Figure:
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Then, draw boxes between the quartiles and the median.
Figure:
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Then, mark the extremes, the smallest and largest numbers, with
points. In this case, the extremes are 7 and 51.
Figure:
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
Then, draw whiskers, or horizontal lines, to connect the quartiles to
the extremes.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
It can be seen from the box-and-whisker plot that half of the data
will be found between the first quartile and the third quartile.
A quarter of the data is between the minimum and the first quartile
and the last quarter is between the third quartile and the maximum.
The median, of course, marks the half-way point between the data.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
Graphical representation of data
...
In this particular situation, the second half of the data is stretched
out over a further area than the first half and about half way is
between 15 and 35.
Double plots or graphs can be made when there are two factors
being compared.
A double box-and-whisker plot can be made by drawing the second
factor beneath the first factor.
This will allow both factors to be visible on the same plot.
Lecturer : Miss M. Sithole
National University of Science and Technology 2020
