The range of a data set shows how spread out the values are. You find it by subtracting the smallest value from the largest, giving a quick sense of the gap between the extremes.
Step by step
- Write down all the valuesList every number in your data set, for example 12, 5, 22, 8, and 17.
- Find the largest valueScan the list and identify the biggest number. In the example, that is 22.
- Find the smallest valueIdentify the lowest number in the same list. Here it is 5.
- Subtract smallest from largestTake the largest minus the smallest. In the example, 22 minus 5 gives a range of 17.
Handy tips
- Sorting the numbers from low to high first makes the smallest and largest easy to spot.
- The range only reflects the two extreme values, so it can be affected by a single outlier.
- A larger range means the data is more spread out, while a small range means values are close together.
FAQ
What is the range in math?
The range is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set, found by subtracting the minimum from the maximum.
Can the range be zero?
Yes. If every value in the set is the same, the largest and smallest are equal, so the range is zero.
How is range different from the mean?
The mean describes the center or typical value, while the range describes the spread between the extremes. They answer different questions about the data.