In the data set 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 100, which value is an outlier?

In the data set 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 100, which value is an outlier?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 100

Answer: (D)

Outliers are values that sit far away from the rest of the data. To see which value sticks out here, list the numbers in order: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 100. The central portion clusters around 2 to 4, while 100 is far beyond that group. Using the common rule with the interquartile range: the middle 50% of the data spans from 3 to 4, giving an IQR of 1. Any value more than 1.5 times the IQR above the upper quartile or below the lower quartile is an outlier. That puts the acceptable range roughly from 1.5 to 5.5. The number 100 falls far outside this range, so it is the outlier. All the other values lie within the usual spread of the data.

Outliers are values that sit far away from the rest of the data. To see which value sticks out here, list the numbers in order: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 100. The central portion clusters around 2 to 4, while 100 is far beyond that group.

Using the common rule with the interquartile range: the middle 50% of the data spans from 3 to 4, giving an IQR of 1. Any value more than 1.5 times the IQR above the upper quartile or below the lower quartile is an outlier. That puts the acceptable range roughly from 1.5 to 5.5. The number 100 falls far outside this range, so it is the outlier. All the other values lie within the usual spread of the data.