Overview
This lecture explains how to calculate a five-number summary using spreadsheet software, specifically covering relevant Excel functions.
Calculating the Five-Number Summary in Excel
- The five-number summary includes: minimum, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3), and maximum.
- To find the minimum, use the formula:
=MIN(data_range).
- To calculate Q1 (first quartile), use:
=QUARTILE(data_range, 1).
- To find the median, use:
=MEDIAN(data_range).
- To calculate Q3 (third quartile), use:
=QUARTILE(data_range, 3).
- To find the maximum, use:
=MAX(data_range).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Five-number summary — a set of values summarizing a data set: minimum, Q1, median, Q3, and maximum.
- Quartile (Q1, Q3) — Q1 is the value below which 25% of the data fall; Q3 is below which 75% fall.
- Median — the middle value of a data set when ordered.
- Minimum/Maximum — the smallest and largest values in a data set.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice calculating a five-number summary using example data in a spreadsheet.
- Review spreadsheet function syntax (
MIN, QUARTILE, MEDIAN, MAX).