What numbers do you plot to make a box and whisker plot?

Answer 1

Here are some steps to make a box and whisker plot:

1. Sort your data set from smallest to lowest

2. Locate and draw the median (or middle value)

3. Identify the numbers forming the lower half of the data set, and draw the median of these numbers.

4. Identify the numbers forming the upper half of the data set, and draw the median of these numbers.

5. Now connect the medians to make the box

6. Lasty, plot the least and greatest values from the entire set and connect them to the box with a line

This may sound complicated, but is actually very easy if you can visualize it. Here is a site with an animated lesson and an interactive activity that will draw a box plot for any data set you create.

http://www.brainingcamp.com/resources/math/box-plots/box-plots-lesson.php