Range
Difference between maximum and minimum.
Key idea
Difference between maximum and minimum.
In depth
Range = maximum − minimum. It is the quickest measure of spread but depends on only two values, so an outlier changes it dramatically.
Worked example
Data 12, 15, 20, 45: range 45 − 12 = 33.
Formula
Real-world uses
- Describing how spread out daily temperatures are or how much a bus arrival time varies
Common mistake
Reporting it as an interval or confusing with the mean.
How to learn this
- Read the key idea and say it in your own words.
- Work through the worked example, then try a similar problem.
- Use the interactive lesson’s visual and mini-quiz to check the pattern.
Frequently asked questions
What is Range?
Difference between maximum and minimum. It is a topic at the intermediate level in Probability & Statistics.
What is the formula for Range?
The key formula is R = max − min.
Where is Range used in real life?
Real-world examples: Describing how spread out daily temperatures are or how much a bus arrival time varies.
What should I learn before Range?
Make sure you are comfortable with Mode, the previous topic in Probability & Statistics.
What is a common mistake with Range?
Reporting it as an interval or confusing with the mean.
How can I practise Range?
Open the interactive lesson, play with the visual, then answer the three-question mini-quiz. Getting two right marks the topic complete.
What comes after Range?
Move on to Quartiles and IQR next.
Related intermediate topics in Probability & Statistics
- Collecting Data and Sampling – Surveys, experiments and random sampling.
- Bias in Sampling – Systematic errors that make samples unrepresentative.
- Histograms – Bars showing frequency of numerical intervals.
- Dot Plots and Stem-and-Leaf Plots – Show the shape of small datasets.
- Mean – The arithmetic average.
- Median – The middle value of an ordered list.