The interquartile range is ________.the middle 50% of a data setthe upper 50% of a data setthe lower 50% of a data setequal to the median

Interquartile Range Explanation

The interquartile range (IQR) is a measure of statistical dispersion and represents the range in which the central 50% of a dataset lies. It is calculated as the difference between the third quartile (Q3) and the first quartile (Q1).

1. Understanding Quartiles:

   • First Quartile (Q1): The median of the lower half of the dataset (25th percentile).
   • Third Quartile (Q3): The median of the upper half of the dataset (75th percentile).

2. Calculation of IQR:

   • The formula for the IQR is given by: $\text{IQR} = Q3 - Q1$ This means that the IQR encompasses the middle half of the data, excluding the extreme values on both ends.

Final Answer

The interquartile range is the middle 50% of a data set.