What Is the Range in a Data Set?
In statistics, the range is the simplest measure of spread or variability in a data set. It is defined as the difference between the highest (maximum) value and the lowest (minimum) value in the set.
Section 2: The Formula for Calculating the Range
The core principle behind the range is to provide a quick sense of how spread out the data points are. The formula is straightforward: Range = Maximum Value - Minimum Value. A larger range indicates greater variability, while a smaller range suggests the data points are clustered more closely together.
Section 3: A Practical Example
For example, consider the following test scores: {88, 75, 92, 68, 95}. To find the range, you first identify the highest score (95) and the lowest score (68). Then, you subtract the lowest from the highest: 95 - 68 = 27. The range of this data set is 27.
Section 4: Why Is the Range Important?
The range is important because it is an easy-to-calculate measure that gives a quick overview of a dataset's dispersion. It is often used in introductory statistics, quality control processes, and weather reporting to quickly understand the span of values, such as the daily temperature range.