1. What is the Range of Values?

The range of a set of values is the difference between the largest (maximum) and smallest (minimum) values. It's a simple measure of statistical dispersion that shows how spread out the values are.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the range formula:

Where:

• \( R \) — Range (same units as input values)
• \( max \) — Maximum value in the dataset
• \( min \) — Minimum value in the dataset

Explanation: The range gives the span between the extreme values in a dataset, providing a quick sense of the data's variability.

3. Importance of Range Calculation

Details: While simple, the range is useful for understanding the spread of data, identifying outliers, and getting a quick sense of variability before more sophisticated analyses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the maximum and minimum values from your dataset. The calculator will compute the difference between them. Both values must be numerical and the maximum must be greater than or equal to the minimum.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the limitations of range?
A: Range only considers the two extreme values and ignores how other values are distributed, making it sensitive to outliers.

Q2: When is range most useful?
A: Range is most useful with small datasets or when you need a quick, simple measure of spread.

Q3: What's the difference between range and interquartile range?
A: Interquartile range measures the middle 50% of data, making it less sensitive 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).

Q5: What units does range have?
A: Range has the same units as the original data values.