How is the range of a data set calculated?

The range of a data set is calculated by finding the difference between the largest and smallest values. This can be expressed mathematically as:

Range = Highest Value - Lowest Value

By subtracting the smallest value from the largest, you determine how spread out the values in the data set are. This measure is useful for understanding the variability or dispersion within that set of data. For example, if the highest value is 10 and the lowest value is 2, the range would be 10 - 2, which equals 8. This tells you that there is an 8-unit difference between the highest and lowest points in the data set, providing insight into the extent of the values being measured.

Other methods of calculating, such as finding the average of the highest and lowest values or the median, do not accurately represent the range and may lead to misunderstandings about the variability of the data.