What key information does a box plot visually represent?

A box plot, also known as a whisker plot, effectively summarizes a dataset by visually representing its five-number summary. This summary includes the minimum value, the first quartile (Q1), the median (Q2), the third quartile (Q3), and the maximum value. Each of these components provides valuable insights: the minimum and maximum indicate the range of the data, while the quartiles divide the data into four equal parts, allowing for an understanding of its distribution.

The box itself illustrates the interquartile range (IQR), which is the range between the first and third quartiles and contains the middle 50% of the data. The line inside the box marks the median, revealing the center of the data. This visual representation aids in identifying the spread and symmetry of the data, as well as spotting potential outliers beyond the range of the whiskers.

While the other options might describe different statistical concepts, they do not capture the unique and comprehensive summary provided by a box plot. For instance, a box plot does not depict frequency distribution (not a histogram), nor does it focus on measures of central tendency like the mean or variability like the standard deviation. Additionally, it doesn't showcase relationships or correlations between different groups, which