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 the data set
• \( min \) — Minimum value in the data set

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

3. Importance of Range Calculation

Details: While simple, the range is useful for getting a quick sense of data variability and is often used alongside other measures like standard deviation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the maximum and minimum values from your data set. The calculator will compute the difference between them to find the range.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the limitations of using range?
A: Range only considers two values (max and min) and is highly sensitive to outliers. It doesn't describe the distribution of other values.

Q2: How does range relate to standard deviation?
A: Both measure spread, but standard deviation considers all data points. Range is simpler but less informative.

Q3: When is range most useful?
A: For small data sets or when you need a quick estimate of variability. Also useful for quality control ranges.

Q4: Can range be negative?
A: No, since it's the difference between max and min (and max ≥ min), range is always zero or positive.

Q5: What's the difference between range and interquartile range?
A: Interquartile range (IQR) measures middle 50% of data, making it more resistant to outliers than regular range.