Shapes

The distribution is:

• Symmetrical

• Hill or bell shaped

The values are similar (close together) in the middle and more spread out as they move further away from the centre.
The width of the middle 50% (box) is much smaller than the outer whiskers (top and bottom 25%)

The distribution is:

• box-shaped.

The values are evenly distributed between the maximum and minimum values.
The widths of each 25% portion in the box and whisker is about the same.

The distribution has:

• lots of values at the lower end.

• a tail towards right.

There are lots of lower values but the upper values are more varied and spread out.
The lower 50% of the box plot is a lot shorter than the upper 50%.

The distribution has:

• lots of values at the upper end.

• a tail towards left.

There are lots of upper values but the lower values are more varied and spread out.
The lower 50% of the box plot is a lot wider than the upper 50%.

The distribution has:

• two peaks (2 modes)

The distribution has no real pattern.