The snowfall data for Resort A are close to symmetric when they are shown in a box plot. The snowfall data for Resort B are not symmetric when they are shown in a box plot. Why is a box plot a good method to compare the data?

Answer:

A box plot is a good method for comparing these two data sets because it visually shows the spread and symmetry of the data. Since Resort B's data is not symmetric, the median (which is shown in a box plot) is a better measure of center than the mean. Box plots allow you to compare the medians and interquartile ranges of both resorts simultaneously to see which has more consistent snowfall.