Final answer:
A boxplot does not provide information about the frequency or specific distribution shape of data values, unlike a histogram, which shows the frequency or relative frequency and reveals the distribution's shape, such as whether it is skewed or has multiple modes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A disadvantage of using a boxplot rather than a histogram is that a histogram provides a view of the data's distribution that includes the mode, shape, and any potential gaps or unusual entries within the data which can be critical to understanding the nature of the data set. The histogram displays the frequency or relative frequency of data within contiguous intervals clarifying the shape of the distribution (e.g., normal, skewed), the center, and the spread of data. In contrast, while a boxplot shows the median, quartiles, and potential outliers, it does not indicate the frequency of any given value or give an immediate impression of the distribution's shape beyond its tendency to skew.
Constructing a boxplot requires a scaled number line and it essentially summarizes data by the five-number summary: minimum value, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3), and maximum value. However, unlike the histogram, it does not reveal the distribution of data within the quartiles or the presence of multiple modes. While box plots are useful for comparing distributions between several data sets, they may mask underlying features of the data distribution that histograms reveal.