Question

Which data set could be represented by the box plot shown below?

A horizontal boxplot is plotted along a horizontal axis marked from 20 to 36, in increments of 1. A left whisker extends from 24 to 27. The box extends from 27 to 33 and is divided into 2 parts by a vertical line segment at 31. The right whisker extends from 33 to 34. All values estimated.
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)
A
24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 31, 32, 34, 34

(Choice B)
B
24, 27, 29, 30, 30, 31, 32, 34, 34

(Choice C)
C
24, 25, 29, 31, 31, 31, 32, 34, 35

(Choice D)
D
24, 25, 29, 30, 30, 31, 34, 34, 34

Answer 1

A

Explanation:

A box plot shows the five-number summary of a set of data.

Five-number summary:

• Minimum value = The value at the end of the left whisker.
• Lower quartile (Q₁) = The left side of the box.
• Median (Q₂) = The vertical line inside the box.
• Upper quartile (Q₃) = The right side of the box
• Maximum = The value at the end of the right whisker.

Therefore, from inspection of the given box plot:

• Minimum value = 24
• Lower quartile (Q₁) = 27
• Median (Q₂) = 31
• Upper quartile (Q₃) = 33
• Maximum = 34

The median of a set of data is the middle value when all data values are placed in order of size.

Therefore, the only answer option that has a maximum value of 34 and a median of 31 is answer option A.