Univariate Data (DP IB Applications & Interpretation (AI)): Revision Note

Box Plots

Univariate data is data that is in one variable.

What is a box plot (box and whisker diagram)?

• A box plot is a graph that clearly shows key statistics from a data set

  • It shows the median, quartiles, minimum and maximum values and outliers

  • It does not show any other individual data items

• The middle 50% of the data will be represented by the box section of the graph and the lower and upper 25% of the data will be represented by each of the whiskers

• Any outliers are represented with a cross on the outside of the whiskers

  • If there is an outlier then the whisker will end at the value before the outlier

• Only one axis is used when graphing a box plot

• It is still important to make sure the axis has a clear, even scale and is labelled with units

What are box plots useful for?

• Box plots can clearly show the shape of the distribution

  • If a box plot is symmetrical about the median then the data could be normally distributed

• Box plots are often used for comparing two sets of data

  • Two box plots will be drawn next to each other using the same axis

  • They are useful for comparing data because it is easy to see the main shape of the distribution of the data from a box plot

    • You can easily compare the medians and interquartile ranges

Cumulative Frequency Graphs

What is cumulative frequency?

• The cumulative frequency of x is the running total of the frequencies for the values that are less than or equal to x

• For grouped data you use the upper boundary of a class interval to find the cumulative frequency of that class

What is a cumulative frequency graph?

• A cumulative frequency graph is used with data that has been organised into a grouped frequency table

• Some coordinates are plotted

  • The x-coordinates are the upper boundaries of the class intervals

  • The y-coordinates are the cumulative frequencies of that class interval

• The coordinates are then joined together by hand using a smooth increasing curve

What are cumulative frequency graphs useful for?

• They can be used to estimate statistical measures

  • Draw a horizontal line from the y-axis to the curve

    • For the median: draw the line at 50% of the total frequency

    • For the lower quartile: draw the line at 25% of the total frequency

    • For the upper quartile: draw the line at 75% of the total frequency

    • For the p^th percentile: draw the line at p% of the total frequency

  • Draw a vertical line down from the curve to the x-axis

  • This x-value is the relevant statistical measure

• They can used to estimate the number of values that are bigger/small than a given value

  • Draw a vertical line from the given value on the x-axis to the curve

  • Draw a horizontal line from the curve to the y-axis

  • This value is an estimate for how many values are less than or equal to the given value

    • To estimate the number that is greater than the value subtract this number from the total frequency

  • They can be used to estimate the interquartile range 

  • They can be used to construct a box plot for grouped data

Histograms

What is a (frequency) histogram?

• A frequency histogram clearly shows the frequency of class intervals

  • The classes will have equal class intervals

  • The frequency will be on the y-axis

  • The bar for a class interval will begin at the lower boundary and end at the upper boundary

• A frequency histogram is similar to a bar chart

  • A bar chart is used for qualitative or discrete data and has gaps between the bars

  • A frequency histogram is used for continuous data and has no gaps between bars

What are (frequency) histograms useful for?

• They show the modal class clearly

• They show the shape of the distribution

  • It is important the class intervals are of equal width

• They can show whether the variable can be modelled by a normal distribution

  • If the shape is symmetrical and bell-shaped