1. What is Range in Statistics?

The range is the simplest measure of variability in a data set. It represents the difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set, showing how spread out the values are.

2. How Does the Range Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the range formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Range (same unit as data)
• \( max \) — Maximum value in data set
• \( min \) — Minimum value in data set

Explanation: The range gives a quick estimate of data dispersion but is sensitive to outliers.

3. Importance of Range Calculation

Details: While simple, range is useful for quick variability assessment, quality control, and preliminary data analysis. It's often reported alongside other statistical measures.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the maximum and minimum values from your data set. The calculator will compute the difference between them. Values can be any real numbers (positive, negative, or zero).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a large range indicate?
A: A large range suggests greater variability in the data set, while a small range indicates values are clustered closely together.

Q2: What are limitations of using range?
A: Range only considers two values (max and min) and is highly sensitive to outliers. It doesn't show how data is distributed between these extremes.

Q3: How is range different from interquartile range?
A: Interquartile range (IQR) measures middle 50% of data, making it more resistant to outliers than the full range.

Q4: Can range be negative?
A: No, range is always non-negative as it's the difference between max and min (max ≥ min by definition).

Q5: When should I use range versus standard deviation?
A: Use range for quick estimates with small data sets. Standard deviation is better for larger data sets as it considers all values.