In box plots, cases that extend beyond the whiskers are referred to as what?

In box plots, cases that extend beyond the whiskers are commonly referred to as "Extremes and Outliers." This terminology accurately describes the nature of these data points. The whiskers in a box plot are typically defined to extend to a certain distance from the quartiles (such as 1.5 times the interquartile range). Any data points that fall outside this range are considered extreme and are indicative of values that deviate significantly from the rest of the dataset.

Outliers are particularly important in statistical analysis because they can influence the results in significant ways; understanding them helps in assessing the distribution and potential anomalies within the dataset. By identifying these points, statisticians can make more informed decisions about data cleaning, analysis, and how they interpret the data overall. This recognition is crucial, especially in mass appraising and other data-driven practices, where anomalies could skew results or indicate special conditions that need further investigation.