How do you calculate the range of a data set?

To calculate the range of a data set, subtract the smallest value from the largest value.

The range is a measure of how spread out the values in a data set are. To find it, you first need to identify the smallest (minimum) and largest (maximum) values in your data set. For example, if your data set is 3, 7, 8, 2, and 10, the smallest value is 2 and the largest value is 10.

Next, you subtract the smallest value from the largest value. Using our example, you would calculate 10 - 2, which equals 8. Therefore, the range of this data set is 8.

The range gives you a quick sense of the variability in your data. However, it doesn't tell you anything about how the values are distributed between the minimum and maximum. For instance, a data set with values 1, 1, 1, 1, and 10 has the same range as a data set with values 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10, even though the distributions are very different.

Remember, the range is just one way to analyse data. It's useful for getting a basic understanding of the spread, but for more detailed analysis, you might also look at other measures like the mean, median, and mode.