Math Problem Statement

A sample of data consists of the values

12, 15, 17, 21, 21, 22, 23, 23, 23, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30

Using a modified box plot, determine which values, if any, are possible outliers.

Select all values that are possible outliers.

Question 9 options:

12

15

17

25

28

30

there are no possible outliers

Solution

To determine if there are any possible outliers in the data using a modified box plot, we can follow these steps:

  1. Calculate the quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3):

    • Q1 (first quartile): This is the median of the lower half of the data.
    • Q2 (second quartile or median): This is the median of the entire dataset.
    • Q3 (third quartile): This is the median of the upper half of the data.
  2. Find the Interquartile Range (IQR):

    • IQR=Q3Q1IQR = Q3 - Q1
  3. Determine the lower and upper bounds:

    • Lower bound: Q11.5×IQRQ1 - 1.5 \times IQR
    • Upper bound: Q3+1.5×IQRQ3 + 1.5 \times IQR
  4. Identify outliers:

    • Any data point below the lower bound or above the upper bound is considered a potential outlier.

Step 1: Calculate Quartiles

Given dataTo determine if there are any possible outliers in the data using a modified box plot, we can follow these steps:

  1. Calculate the quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3):

    • Q1 (first quartile): This is the median of the lower half of the data.
    • Q2 (second quartile or median): This is the median of the entire dataset.
    • Q3 (third quartile): This is the median of the upper half of the data.
  2. Find the Interquartile Range (IQR):

    • IQR=Q3Q1IQR = Q3 - Q1
  3. Determine the lower and upper bounds:

    • Lower bound: Q11.5×IQRQ1 - 1.5 \times IQR
    • Upper bound: Q3+1.5×IQRQ3 + 1.5 \times IQR
  4. Identify outliers:

    • Any data point below the lower bound or above the upper bound is considered a potential outlier.

Step 1: Calculate Quartiles

Given 12, 15, 17, 21, 21, 22, 23, 23, 23, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30

  • Q2 (Median): 23 (since it is the average of the 7th and 8th values in the sorted list)
  • Q1: Median of the first half (12, 15, 17, 21, 21, 22, 23) is 21.
  • Q3: Median of the second half (23, 23, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30) is 24.

Step 2: Calculate IQR

IQR=Q3Q1=2421=3IQR = Q3 - Q1 = 24 - 21 = 3

Step 3: Determine the Lower and Upper Bounds

  • Lower bound: Q11.5×IQR=211.5×3=214.5=16.5Q1 - 1.5 \times IQR = 21 - 1.5 \times 3 = 21 - 4.5 = 16.5
  • Upper bound: Q3+1.5×IQR=24+1.5×3=24+4.5=28.5Q3 + 1.5 \times IQR = 24 + 1.5 \times 3 = 24 + 4.5 = 28.5

Step 4: Identify Outliers

  • Any value below 16.5 or above 28.5 is considered a possible outlier.

Values in the data:

  • 12, 15, and 17 are below 16.5, so they are possible outliers.
  • 30 is above 28.5, so it is a possible outlier.

Conclusion: The possible outliers in the data set are 12, 15, 17, and 30.

Answer:

  • 12
  • 15
  • 17
  • 30

Would you like further details or have any questions?

Follow-up Questions:

  1. What are the key differences between a modified box plot and a regular box plot?
  2. How does the choice of the multiplier (1.5) affect the detection of outliers in box plots?
  3. Can a value exactly at the boundary (like 16.5 or 28.5) be considered an outlier?
  4. How would you interpret outliers in the context of a real-world data set?
  5. What are some alternative methods to detect outliers in a data set?

Tip:

When identifying outliers, it's helpful to plot the data using a box plot, as it visually represents the spread and identifies outliers easily.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Box plot
Quartiles
Interquartile Range (IQR)

Formulas

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Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

High School