Final answer:
Class boundaries in statistics define the edges of intervals in histograms, affecting how data are grouped.
Step-by-step explanation:
Class boundaries in statistics refer to the edges of the intervals used for grouping data in a histogram. When constructing histograms, class intervals are defined so that data values are sorted into non-overlapping continuous ranges.
Depending on the approach, some histograms may count a value as part of a class interval if it falls on the lower boundary (left boundary), but not on the upper boundary (right boundary). It is important to be consistent when determining which end of each interval includes its boundary.
For instance, in one method, a data set with class boundaries of 50 to less than 60, 60 to less than 70, and so on, would count a score of 60 in the second interval of 60 to less than 70, but not in the first interval.
However, there are cases where the boundaries are adjusted so that data values that fall on the right boundary are counted in the class interval, with the exception of the first interval, which may include both boundaries. This helps in creating unbiased representation of data in histograms, which are pivotal in statistical analysis and interpretations.
The choice of boundary inclusion can affect the representation of data in a histogram, but it should be chosen in a way that best represents the underlying distribution and facilitates comparison among different data sets when necessary.