What is range and why does it matter?

The range is the difference between the largest and smallest values in a data set.

Formula:

Range=Largest Value−Smallest Value

If the marks scored by students are 15, 18, 20, 25, and 30:

• Largest value = 30
• Smallest value = 15
• Range = 30 − 15 = 15

Why Range Matters

• Shows Spread of Data: Range tells you how spread out the values are.
• Quick Comparison: It helps compare variability between two data sets.
  • Example: If Class A’s range is 15 and Class B’s range is 40, Class B’s marks are much more spread out.
• Useful for Analysis: In statistics, range gives an idea about consistency — smaller range means data is more consistent, larger range means data is more varied.

Range is the simplest measure of dispersion. It shows how far apart the data values are, which helps teachers, researchers, and students understand the distribution of data better.