1. What is Range in Statistics?

The range is the simplest measure of variability in statistics, representing the difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset. It gives a quick estimate of the spread of the data.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the range formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The range provides a simple measure of dispersion, showing how spread out the values in a dataset are.

3. Importance of Range Calculation

Details: While simple, the range is useful for quick assessments of data variability and for identifying potential outliers in the dataset.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the maximum and minimum values from your dataset. Both values must be valid numbers with max greater than min.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the limitations of using range?
A: Range is sensitive to outliers and doesn't provide information about the distribution of values between the extremes.

Q2: When should I use range versus standard deviation?
A: Range is good for a quick overview, while standard deviation provides more detailed information about data dispersion.

Q3: Can range be negative?
A: No, range is always non-negative as it's the difference between max and min values (max ≥ min).

Q4: How does range relate to other measures of spread?
A: Range is the simplest measure of spread. Other measures like interquartile range or variance provide more robust information.

Q5: Is range affected by sample size?
A: Yes, range tends to increase with sample size as larger samples are more likely to include extreme values.