The range of a data set is a measure of variability that represents the difference between the largest (maximum) and smallest (minimum) values in the set. It shows the spread or dispersion of the data by indicating how far apart the extreme values are. To calculate the range:
- Arrange the data values from smallest to largest.
- Subtract the smallest value from the largest value.
The formula is:
Range=Maximum value−Minimum value\text{Range}=\text{Maximum value}-\text{Minimum value}Range=Maximum value−Minimum value
For example, if the data set is {2, 5, 8, 10, 3}, the range is 10−2=810-2=810−2=8. The range is expressed in the same units as the data and is the simplest measure of statistical dispersion. A larger range indicates greater variability in the data, while a smaller range indicates less variability. However, the range only considers the two extreme values and does not provide information about the distribution of the other data points
