Range - GCSE Maths Definition

The word range may be used casually in mathematics without having a specific meaning, but in statistics, 'the range' refers to the difference between the lowest and highest values in a data set. It is a way of measuring the spread (variation) of data values. It is important to remember that finding the range involves making a calculation ("hi - lo").

As well as calculating the range, a GCSE Mathematics exam question may ask you to interpret it in the context of the question. For example, a small range means the data has little variation - this could be useful for a golfer to see if they are playing consistently well (or bad!); a large range means the data has large variation - this could be the case if looking at how outdoor temperatures vary over the course of a year.