Comparative box plots - GCSE Maths Definition

Comparative box plots, also known as box-and-whisker plots, are graphical representations used to compare the distribution of data sets. In GCSE Maths, they provide a visual way to display key statistical measures such as the median, quartiles, and range of multiple data sets on the same diagram. Each box plot consists of a box that shows the interquartile range (IQR), with a line inside marking the median, and 'whiskers' that extend to the minimum and maximum values, excluding outliers. By placing box plots side by side, students can easily compare differences and similarities in the central tendency and spread of different data sets, making it easier to draw conclusions about the data.