Range (statistics)
The range is a measure of dispersion in statistics, representing the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set. It provides a simple indication of the spread of the data.
Calculation[edit]
To calculate the range, subtract the smallest value from the largest value in the data set:
- Range = Maximum value − Minimum value
For example, in the data set {3, 7, 8, 15, 22}, the range is 22 − 3 = 19.
Properties[edit]
- The range is sensitive to outliers, as it only considers the extreme values.
- It is a simple measure and does not provide information about the distribution of values between the extremes.
- The range is often used in conjunction with other measures of dispersion, such as the interquartile range and standard deviation.
Applications[edit]
The range is used in various fields to provide a quick sense of the variability in data. In medicine, it can be used to understand the spread of biological measurements such as blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Limitations[edit]
While the range is easy to compute, it is not a robust measure of variability because it is highly affected by outliers. Other measures, like the variance or standard deviation, provide more comprehensive insights into data variability.
