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Find the range

The range of a data set is the difference between its greatest value and its least value, found by subtracting the least value from the greatest value; it describes how far the data extend from one endpoint to the other. The values may be read from a list, table, picture graph, bar graph, or line plot, using whole-number data appropriate to the context; range is not the same as the greatest value or the number of data points and does not describe every variation within the set.

Detailed Explanation: Find the range

To find the range of a data set:

  1. Find the greatest value.
  2. Find the least value.
  3. Subtract the least value from the greatest value.
Range=greatest value−least value\text{Range}=\text{greatest value}-\text{least value}

Example: The numbers of books five students read are:

4, 7, 3, 6, 54,\ 7,\ 3,\ 6,\ 5
  • The greatest value is 77.
  • The least value is 33.
  • Subtract:
7−3=47-3=4

The range is 4 books. This means the data extend from 33 books to 77 books. The range is not the greatest value, 77, and it is not the number of students, 55.

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Statistics - Concept Intro Range - Term to Answer


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