How can I find a five number summary on a TI-84 calculator?

The TI-84 calculator has the capability to quickly and accurately calculate a five number summary for a set of data. To do this, first enter the data into a list on the calculator. Then, access the “1-Var Stats” function under the “STAT” menu. This will display the minimum, maximum, median, first quartile, and third quartile for the data set, which make up the five number summary. This feature is useful for analyzing and summarizing data in a efficient and organized manner.

Find a Five Number Summary on a TI-84 Calculator


A five number summary is a way to summarize a dataset using the following five values:

  • The minimum
  • The first quartile
  • The median
  • The third quartile
  • The maximum

By simply knowing these five values, we can know a great deal about a dataset.

The following step-by-step example shows how to find the five number summary for the following dataset on a TI-84 calculator:

Dataset: 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 17, 20, 21, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28

Step 1: Enter the Data

First, we will input the data values. Press Stat, then press EDIT. Then enter the values of the dataset in column L1:

Step 2: Find the Five Number Summary

Next, press Stat and then scroll over to the right and press CALC. Then press 1-Var Stats.

In the new screen that appears, simply press Enter.

Once you press Enter, a list of summary statistics will appear. Scroll down to the very bottom of the list:

From this screen we can observe the five number summary:

  • The minimum: 4
  • The first quartile (Q1): 7
  • The median: 17
  • The third quartile (Q3): 23
  • The maximum: 28

We can also use these numbers to find the following metrics:

  • Range: Maximum – Minimum = 28 – 4 = 4
  • Interquartile Range: Q3 – Q1 = 23 – 7 = 16

These two metrics give us an idea of how the values are in the dataset.

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