Home / IBDP Maths SL 4.2 Understanding of box and whisker diagrams AA HL Paper 1- Exam Style Questions

IBDP Maths SL 4.2 Understanding of box and whisker diagrams AA HL Paper 1- Exam Style Questions

IBDP Maths SL 4.2 Understanding of box and whisker diagrams AA HL Paper 1- Exam Style Questions- New Syllabus

Question

A research student weighed lizard eggs in grams and recorded the results. The following box and whisker diagram shows a summary of the results where \( L \) and \( U \) are the lower and upper quartiles respectively.

Box plot diagram

The interquartile range is 20 grams and there are no outliers in the results.

(a) Find the minimum possible value of \( U \). [3]

(b) Hence, find the minimum possible value of \( L \). [2]

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Solution (a)

To find the minimum possible value of \( U \):

  1. Given the interquartile range (IQR) is 20 grams:

    \[ IQR = U – L = 20 \]

  2. For no outliers, the maximum value must satisfy:

    \[ \text{Maximum} \leq U + 1.5 \times IQR \]

  3. From the box plot, maximum value is 75 grams:

    \[ 75 \leq U + 1.5 \times 20 \]
    \[ 75 \leq U + 30 \]
    \[ U \geq 45 \]

Thus, the minimum possible value of \( U \) is \( \boxed{45} \) grams.

Solution (b)

Using the result from part (a) and the given IQR:

  1. From \( IQR = U – L = 20 \):

    \[ L = U – 20 \]

  2. Using the minimum \( U = 45 \):

    \[ L = 45 – 20 = 25 \]

  3. Verify no lower outliers:

    \[ \text{Minimum} \geq L – 1.5 \times IQR \]
    \[ \text{Minimum} \geq 25 – 30 = -5 \] (which is automatically satisfied as weights can’t be negative)

Thus, the minimum possible value of \( L \) is \( \boxed{25} \) grams.

Question

A scientist has 100 female fish and 100 male fish. She measures their lengths to the nearest cm. These are shown in the following box and whisker diagrams.

Original box and whisker plots
  1. Find the range of the lengths of all 200 fish. [3]
  2. Four cumulative frequency graphs are shown below.

    Original cumulative frequency graphs

    Which graph is the best representation of the lengths of the female fish? [2]

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Solution (a)

Using the confirmed values:

  • Female fish range: 4cm to 24cm
  • Male fish range: 6cm to 27cm

Range calculation:

Overall minimum = min(4cm, 6cm) = 4cm

Overall maximum = max(24cm, 27cm) = 27cm

Range = Maximum – Minimum = 27cm – 4cm = 23cm

\(\boxed{23 \text{ cm}}\)

Solution (b)

Female fish cumulative frequency points:

Length (cm)Cumulative %Description
40%Minimum
625%Q1
850%Median
1675%Q3
24100%Maximum

Graph Selection:

The correct graph must show:

  1. Begins at (4cm, 0%)
  2. 25% cumulative frequency at 6cm
  3. 50% at 8cm
  4. Steep increase between 8cm-16cm (50%-75%)
  5. Gradual approach to 100% at 24cm

This pattern matches Graph 3 in the original image, which shows:

  • Initial rapid increase (0-6cm)
  • Slower progression (6-8cm)
  • Steep middle section (8-16cm)
  • Final leveling off (16-24cm)

\(\boxed{\text{Graph 3}}\)

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