Final answer:
A box plot visually represents a dataset's distribution and is constructed from the minimum value, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum value. Outliers are determined using the interquartile range and rounding calculations to two decimal places.
Step-by-step explanation:
To construct a box plot, which is used to graphically represent the distribution of a data set, you first need to identify the minimum value, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3), and maximum value. These elements form the basis of the box plot. The first and third quartiles act as markers for the bounds of the box. The median is indicated within the box, and the whiskers extend from each end of the box to the smallest and largest data values, respectively.
Outliers are data points that lie significantly outside the range of the majority of the data. To determine potential outliers, you calculate the interquartile range (IQR), which is Q3 minus Q1. A data value is classified as an outlier if it is below Q1 minus 1.5 times the IQR or above Q3 plus 1.5 times the IQR. It is important to round the values of Q1, Q3, and the IQR to two decimal places when performing these calculations.
In summary, a box plot gives a visualization of the central 50% of data points and helps identify outliers, enhancing our ability to analyze and interpret datasets.