ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE General & Further Mathematics => Topic started by: chumchum on November 01, 2009, 07:34:23 pm

Title: boxplots
Post by: chumchum on November 01, 2009, 07:34:23 pm

hey
guys
how do u tell the mean from boxplots ?
for eg. the 2008 paper

Title: Re: boxplots
Post by: krzysiek on November 01, 2009, 09:00:55 pm

As far as I know, a mean cannot be told from a box plot. Rather, you can tell the median.

HOWEVER - should the BOX PLOT be positively skewed, the mean is GREATER than the median. The same should hold true if the box plot is negatively skewed, giving the mean as LOWER than the median.

I hope this helps in some way to answering your question.

:)

Title: Re: boxplots
Post by: lachymm on November 01, 2009, 09:23:53 pm

Dont believe there is a way of telling the mean from a boxplot, previous poster is correct from what i understand.

Title: Re: boxplots
Post by: chumchum on November 01, 2009, 09:31:01 pm

thnx a lot krzysiek

Title: Re: boxplots
Post by: krzysiek on November 01, 2009, 11:02:53 pm

No problems. The question you are asking is likely one that got me (about box plots and means) and I researched and found the link between mean and the negative/positive skew box plots. I put it in my notes reference so if a question like this comes up, I can easily be reminded (as otherwise, I would assume almost no one knows this about box plots - an easy way to get ahead of the curve)