The Range is an important idea in statistics. It shows the difference between the highest and lowest numbers in a group of data. To find the Range, you can use this simple formula:

Range = Maximum Value - Minimum Value

Let’s look at a simple example with the exam scores of five students: 56, 75, 80, 90, and 95.

• The highest score is 95.
• The lowest score is 56.

Now, let’s calculate the Range:

Range = 95 - 56 = 39

This tells us that there is a spread of 39 points between the lowest and highest scores.

Why is the Range Important?

1. Understanding Data Spread: The Range helps us see how much the data changes. If the Range is large, it means the scores are more spread out. If the Range is small, it means the scores are closer to each other.

2. Identifying Outliers: The Range also helps us find outliers. These are values that are much higher or lower than the rest. For example, if one student scored 20 instead of 56, the Range would be much larger. This makes it easy to spot that score as an outlier.

3. Helping with Decisions: Knowing the Range can help people make decisions. For example, if a teacher sees a small Range in their class scores, they might decide to make the lessons harder.

In conclusion, the Range is a simple but useful tool for understanding how data spreads out. It’s an important concept in Year 9 Mathematics!