Statistics
Range
A measure of spread rather than of centre, and far more sensitive to outliers than the median is.
The Formula
range = largest - smallest
A measure of spread rather than of centre, and far more sensitive to outliers than the median is.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | Range | same as data | Spread from smallest to largest. |
| largest | Maximum | same as data | The largest value in the set. |
| smallest | Minimum | same as data | The smallest value in the set. |
What Each Symbol Means
Rsame as data
Range
Spread from smallest to largest.
largestsame as data
Maximum
The largest value in the set.
smallestsame as data
Minimum
The smallest value in the set.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the median page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Median, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.