What does the box in a box plot represent?

The box in a box plot represents the interquartile range (IQR), which captures 50% of the data. The box is drawn from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3), thus illustrating the middle 50% of the dataset. This visual representation allows viewers to quickly assess the spread and central tendency of the data.

In addition, the line inside the box typically indicates the median (Q2) of the dataset. Since the primary purpose of the box is to display data dispersion and central tendency through the quartiles, identifying that the box encompasses 50% of the data is crucial in interpreting box plots effectively. Understanding this feature is fundamental for analyzing data distributions, identifying outliers, and comparing different datasets visually.